Delhi Stray Dog Sterilisation And Vaccination Drive Launched After Supreme Court Order

Following directives from the Supreme Court, the Delhi government is set to roll out a sterilisation and vaccination campaign targeting stray dogs across the city. Under the initiative, 24 government veterinary hospitals will be converted into vaccination centers, modeled after Lucknow's highly successful Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme. Shimla has also introduced an innovative system using GPS-enabled collars with QR codes to track vaccination status and monitor stray dog populations. The campaign aims to reduce rabies cases and enhance public safety.

The drive will be conducted under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules 2023, following a Supreme Court ruling mandating that stray dogs be released back to their original locations after sterilisation and immunisation, except for those infected with rabies or showing aggressive behaviour. Delhi, according to a 2016 survey, has approximately 8 lakh (800,000) stray dogs.

Of Delhi's 78 government veterinary hospitals, 24 will serve as vaccination centers. The Supreme Court has recognized Lucknow's ABC programme as a national benchmark for humane and effective stray dog management. The model follows a "capture, sterilise, vaccinate, and release" approach, emphasizing humane treatment and scientific methods. Municipalities nationwide are instructed to create dedicated feeding zones and helplines, both integral elements of the Lucknow strategy. NGOs, private veterinarians, and volunteers will also participate in the campaign.

The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria, clarified that dogs infected with rabies must not be released after sterilisation and immunisation but should be kept in shelters or pounds. The modified order also restricted public feeding of stray dogs and directed the MCD to establish dedicated feeding spaces in each municipal ward.

Shimla has already started a similar initiative, equipping stray dogs with GPS collars carrying QR codes to digitally record their location, vaccination status, and other vital information. Speaking to ANI, Shimla Mayor Surinder Chauhan said the program aims to reduce rabies-related fatalities and improve public safety.

He added, "Our vaccination and sterilisation drives have been ongoing. To prevent rabies cases, we have vaccinated 2,000 dogs so far and attached QR code collars, which allow tracking by dog lovers and animal welfare groups. Aggressive dogs are identified with red tags for separate handling. We are educating the public, partnering with social organisations, and initiating a large-scale sterilisation campaign."

Chauhan further stated, "Shimla is the first city in the country to implement this initiative. Organisations from Goa, Mumbai, Maharashtra, Patiala, and Himachal Pradesh's Rampur have joined us. The program will also produce India's first dog census, digitising details of each stray dog. Once the program concludes, the Chief Minister will formally close it."