The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has, for the first time, allocated Rs 20 crore for the development of dog shelters and another Rs 20 crore for microchipping stray dogs in its 2026-27 budget. This move comes amid mounting pressure to create permanent shelters for aggressive stray dogs. However, the implementation of both initiatives remains slow.
Progress on Dog Shelters
Senior officials stated that efforts are being expedited to accelerate work on the ground. To accommodate strays collected from institutions and public places such as hospitals, schools, and bus stands, the MCD has initiated correspondence with the Delhi government seeking land at animal husbandry department hospitals and animal birth control (ABC) centres. The objective is to ensure that every zone has a shelter facility for stray dogs until permanent infrastructure is developed, officials said.
An official noted, "The Supreme Court on Tuesday made it clear that dogs found in public places should be sterilised and relocated to permanent shelters. Institutions will have to appoint nodal officers to keep campuses free of strays and prevent open feeding. MCD's veterinary department will play a key role in picking up the animals." However, he acknowledged that creating shelters for such a large number of dogs would require substantial land. After the MCD's earlier communication, the Delhi government asked the civic body to identify hospitals where such facilities could be established. "We are on the job," the official added.
Shelter Development in Dwarka and Other Locations
MCD standing committee chairperson Satya Sharma said that work on a dog shelter in Dwarka is progressing, and similar facilities will be developed at other locations. "Such facilities are important to ensure safe shelter, treatment, and care of stray dogs," she said. A proposal to add kennels at five existing sterilisation centres is under consideration. Sharma added that work at Bijwasan and Bela Road centres has already begun, which is expected to enhance the MCD's daily sterilisation capacity.
Expansion at Bela Road ABC Centre
A visit by TOI to the animal birth control (ABC) centre at Bela Road revealed that work had recently started to revamp a large hall for developing additional kennels to house stray dogs. Officials said the work will be completed in at least four months. The expansion is expected to create space for at least 40 more kennels to accommodate 750 more dogs per month. An ABC centre that can sterilise about 750 dogs per month is already operational adjacent to the complex at Bela Road. While it appeared well-maintained, it was not being utilised to its full capacity, TOI found.
A veterinary doctor at the site said, "About 25-30 community dogs are housed here every day. We have three vans and dedicated staff to catch strays from designated areas, apart from animals brought in by MCD teams. The dogs are generally kept here for three days, and staff are deployed 24x7." He added that the recent Supreme Court directions have sparked both curiosity and apprehension among people, with many now coming forward to get community dogs sterilised before they are picked up. "However, what constitutes a ferocious dog remains unclear and may become a point of dispute," he said.
Staff Safety and Challenges
Staff at the centre welcomed the court's order that no FIRs or criminal complaints should be lodged against municipal staff, animal welfare authorities, or officials acting in good faith while picking up, sterilising, and vaccinating stray dogs. A staff member said, "There have been instances where our staff were attacked, gheraoed, and blamed by dog lovers simply for performing their duties. Another challenge we face is when people insist they will get the dogs vaccinated on their own."
Anti-Rabies Vaccination and Microchipping
Sharma said a large-scale anti-rabies vaccination drive will be conducted to effectively control rabies. The microchipping proposal is under examination, and the MCD is exploring the possibility of engaging expert agencies through a corporate social responsibility (CSR) model, officials said. They added that once the eight non-functional sterilisation centres become operational, the focus would shift towards significantly increasing daily sterilisation procedures.
