The Reality for Delhi’s Community Dogs
Delhi is home to an estimated one million free-roaming dogs. Many navigate the streets with ease, are cared for by local residents, and are deeply woven into the fabric of their communities.
Rabies and dog bites remain serious public health concerns in India according to the World Health Organisation, however, Catch, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return (CNVR) programmes in the region have already proven effective. Since India’s Animal Birth Control (ABC) initiative began in 2023, rabies deaths have declined and community dogs have been able to remain in the places they know best.
Research from the University of Edinburgh supports this progress, reporting that 82% of human–street dog interactions in India are peaceful, involving approachable or neutral behaviour.
Despite this evidence, the Supreme Court of India has ordered the removal of all street dogs from Delhi and surrounding cities, with the goal of reducing dog bites and rabies cases. In reality, this mass removal threatens to cause far greater harm to both animal welfare and long-term public safety.
A Death Sentence in Disguise
India’s cities currently hold less than one percent of the shelter space needed for their street dog populations. Overcrowding in these facilities would be inevitable and dangerous.
When shelters exceed capacity, dogs face:
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Malnutrition from limited food supplies
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Disease outbreaks caused by poor sanitation and cramped space
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Chronic stress from constant confinement and loud environments
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Declining welfare due to overworked staff and limited veterinary care
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Injuries from fights over food, mates, and space, made worse by overcrowding
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Death for those unable to survive in harsh conditions
Many dogs targeted for removal are already sterilised, vaccinated, and part of local communities. Forbidding their return disregards their welfare and undermines the proven effectiveness of CNVR programmes, which keep populations stable, protect public health, and allow dogs to remain in the environments they know.
The Humane Alternative: Catch, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return (CNVR)
In 2023, the Supreme Court endorsed ABC measures, encouraging CNVR programmes as a humane, science-based approach to controlling dog populations and safeguarding public health.
Catch – Trained teams humanely capture dogs
Neuter – Dogs are spayed or castrated to prevent future litters
Vaccinate – Dogs receive rabies and other essential vaccinations
Release – Once recovered, dogs return to the location where they were found
Sterilised and vaccinated dogs are often marked to avoid unnecessary recapture. Returning them to their home areas prevents unsterilised, unvaccinated dogs from moving in and spreading disease, keeping populations stable over time.
Why Removal Increases the Issue
Removing healthy, sterilised, vaccinated dogs creates a “vacuum effect.” The empty space attracts other dogs, drawn by new food opportunities. These newcomers are often unsterilised and unvaccinated, which can lead to:
- Increased rabies risk
- More aggressive territorial behaviour
- Rapid population growth
Rather than solving the problem, mass removal resets the cycle, placing both dogs and people at greater risk.
A Call for Humane, Sustainable Solutions
The World Health Organisation recognises mass sterilisation and vaccination as the most effective way to control dog populations and prevent rabies. Catch, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return (CNVR) programmes have been proven worldwide to reduce human–dog conflict, improve animal welfare, and build safer communities.
Public health and animal welfare must work together. By strengthening CNVR programmes, improving waste management, and investing in public education, we can protect people and dogs without inflicting the suffering that mass removal will bring.
Our project partner Ravi Dubey, on the ground in Faridabad, shares: “To strip the streets of Delhi of its stray dogs is to erase a part of the city’s soul. These animals, though voiceless, have long been companions to communities and rounding them up without compassion is not order, but quiet cruelty.”
Wild at Heart Foundation stands alongside animal welfare organisations and community caregivers across India. We urge decision makers to reject mass removal and instead choose humane, proven strategies that save lives and protect communities.
