Delhi govt mulls relocating stray dogs to special shelters amid soaring bite cases

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The Delhi government is considering a major policy shift to deal with the increasing number of dog bite cases in the city. Authorities are exploring the possibility of relocating aggressive or dangerous stray dogs to special shelters, which would require changes to current animal protection laws, The Times of India reported.

As per the existing Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, stray dogs must be sterilised, vaccinated, and released back into the same location they were picked up. These rules are framed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and have been backed by the Supreme Court. As a result, relocating stray dogs is currently not allowed.

As per TOI, a high-level meeting was recently held at the Delhi Secretariat considering rising dog bite cases in Delhi. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, along with ministers Kapil Mishra and Ashish Sood, discussed the matter in detail. According to the report, the suggestion was made that the Delhi government should request help from the Centre to amend the ABC Rules and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The goal is to allow dangerous dogs to be shifted to shelters where they can be monitored and treated under expert care.

According to the plan, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) would be responsible for setting up these shelters. Dogs identified as aggressive or repeatedly involved in biting incidents could be sent to these facilities. There, they would receive behavioural treatment, and only after showing signs of improvement would they be returned to their original areas, TOI reported citing sources.

The report also revealed that Chief Minister Gupta instructed officials to treat the issue as more than just an administrative concern. She stressed that it was a social responsibility and called for a compassionate and inclusive approach. She advised that animal welfare groups, veterinary experts, and citizens be involved in the planning and policy discussions.

As part of a long-term solution, the Delhi government is also working on building a platform where local residents and animal caregivers can come together to find solutions that protect both people and animals. So far in 2025, 49 rabies cases have been recorded at the Maharishi Valmiki Infectious Diseases Hospital, and over 35,000 animal bite incidents have been reported in the first six months alone, according to official data.

The MCD has already sterilised and vaccinated more than 65,000 street dogs between January and July this year. To step up efforts, the MCD’s standing committee has also formed a special subcommittee to manage street dog-related issues. This new panel had its first meeting recently, where it was decided to continue working with existing NGOs involved in dog sterilisation and to bring more organisations on board.

Officials have also announced plans for a month-long intensive sterilisation drive to curb the growing number of strays. Currently, there are 20 sterilisation centres in Delhi, run by NGOs. These centres perform sterilisation surgeries and administer anti-rabies vaccines before releasing dogs back into the same neighbourhoods.