Delhi-NCR stray dog menace: 'She could’ve been saved' - Girl, 6, dies amid policy gaps and civic failure

Stray dogs

The recent death of six-year-old Chavi Sharma following a brutal attack by a rabid stray dog in Delhi’s Pooth Kalan near Rohini has put the spotlight firmly on the region’s escalating stray dog menace, exposing lapses in civic management and public health safeguards, according to a report by TOI.

Chavi, a Class 1 pupil who had just started school, was attacked on June 30 while visiting her aunt. The dog inflicted severe wounds on her left leg, arm and palm. Local residents, including Shakuntala, a 64-year-old woman previously attacked by the same animal, declared they had repeatedly alerted municipal authorities without any remedial action. Shakuntala told TOI, “The dog had been roaming in this area for the last couple of months, attacking passersby and chasing two-wheelers. We had complained to the councillor, to no avail.”

Although Chavi began anti-rabies treatment immediately at Ambedkar Hospital, her health deteriorated rapidly after she developed a fever on July 24. Medical staff initially dismissed the symptoms as seasonal flu, delaying crucial intervention. The child was repeatedly transferred between multiple government hospitals, Kalawati, Lady Hardinge (which cited a lack of isolation facilities), Ram Manohar Lohia and Safdarjung - before finally being admitted to a private hospital in Pitampura where she passed away on July 26.

Her elder brother Vishal lamented to TOI, “Had the dog been removed, my sister wouldn't have lost her life.” The family, long-time Pooth Kalan residents, has lodged a complaint at Sultanpuri police station seeking legal redress against MCD officials for alleged neglect.

This tragedy coincides with broader legal and administrative debates across Delhi-NCR on managing street dogs safely and humanely. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court criticised a petitioner in Noida who alleged harassment for feeding stray dogs in public spaces, suggesting, “Why don’t you feed them in your own house? Nobody is stopping you.” The court underscored concerns for public safety, particularly the risks faced by morning walkers and two-wheeler riders, and highlighted the balance the law must strike between animal welfare and human protection.

The plea followed a March 2025 Allahabad High Court order mandating authorities to ensure both animals and people are safeguarded. The high court noted recent serious stray dog attacks resulting in injuries and deaths, urging sensitivity to all stakeholders.

In response to growing civic pressure, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has constituted a nine-member committee chaired by Bhati ward councillor Sundar Singh, encompassing senior veterinary officials and councillors, to formulate a comprehensive strategy addressing the canine menace. As TOI reports from the July 16 standing committee meeting chaired by Satya Sharma, the body approved plans to establish dog shelters across all 12 MCD zones.

Sharma outlined that the committee’s remit includes site identification, resource assessment, budget planning, and cooperation with NGOs and expert bodies specializing in animal welfare and public health. "The committee will prepare a complete action plan for the construction and operation of these shelter homes," Sharma was cited by TOI, "It will not only focus on animal welfare, but will also ensure that public safety, sanitation, and health concerns arising from stray dogs are effectively addressed."

A critical task assigned to the committee is evaluating current regulatory limitations. The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 presently restrict the relocation of stray dogs, a measure now under scrutiny. Sharma confirmed that if necessary, the MCD would pursue amendments to central government norms to enable more effective interventions.

The urgency of this issue is amplified by chronic deficits in data and sterilisation efforts: the last official stray dog census in Delhi was conducted nine years ago by the former south corporation. The 2016 survey counted nearly 190,000 stray dogs in south Delhi alone, with only around 40% of males and 28% of females sterilised, figures widely considered inadequate to arrest population growth. According to officials, the absence of updated censuses hampers the efficient planning and execution of control measures.

The opposing imperatives of protecting animal welfare and ensuring public safety remain at the core of the challenge faced by Delhi-NCR authorities. With the deadly consequences of insufficient action laid bare by Chavi’s tragic death, the capital’s administration is under intensified scrutiny to deliver practical, humane solutions - balancing compassion with caution in managing its vast stray dog population.