Days after India’s top court issued a new order, tensions over stray dogs have risen across Delhi. Animal lovers face hostility, and some even report violence, while others warn that stray dogs pose real dangers to the public.
Residents confront dog feeders
Megha Malhotra has fed stray dogs in her residential complex for nearly two years. Every evening, she places food at a temporary spot near her building’s exit gate. “I enjoy taking care of them,” she says.
In recent weeks, she noticed growing unease among neighbours. Some have confronted her, insisting she stop feeding the dogs. Malhotra usually stays calm, but she has had to respond firmly in several incidents.
Confrontations like these are becoming frequent across Delhi. Compassionate residents feed dogs, while others cite rising dog bites and occasional fatalities.
Supreme Court order sparks debate
The Supreme Court recently modified its directive on stray dogs in Delhi. The court now requires dogs to be caught, vaccinated, sterilised, and returned to their neighbourhoods. Aggressive dogs and those carrying rabies must be moved to shelters.
The order also banned feeding dogs in public spaces. Civic authorities must now designate specific feeding areas. Some residents, however, interpreted the ruling as a total ban on feeding.
Long-time caregivers allege harassment, assault, and threats from neighbours who believe feeding strays is illegal. In some cases, residents try to shoo away dogs from feeding spots to prevent others from feeding them.
“There is fear in people’s minds about dog attacks. They don’t realise these animals just need care and love,” Malhotra says.
Stray dogs are everywhere
Stray dogs are common across Indian cities. Delhi alone may have close to a million, although no official count exists. Most dogs are not feral. People treat them as community animals. They live alongside humans and rely on them for food.
From gated colonies to roadside stalls, stray dogs are part of daily urban life. Yet rising numbers of residents fear dog bites. They also complain strays compromise safety and sanitation. Packs of dogs sometimes chase children or the elderly.
“My husband and I fear sending our children out unsupervised. What if a dog bites them? Who is responsible?” says Chetna Singh, a north Delhi resident.
Government data shows 3.7 million dog bites nationwide in 2024. Delhi alone reported over 25,000.
Limited government policy
India lacks a comprehensive stray dog policy beyond the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme. This programme focuses on sterilisation and vaccination to reduce aggression and population.
Delhi runs 25 ABC centres. They sterilise and vaccinate dogs, then return them to their neighbourhoods. These centres face funding and operational challenges.
Municipal officials now plan to identify feeding spots in line with the court order. Local sanitation workers will collaborate with residents and welfare associations to mark these areas. Authorities have not responded to media requests for comment.
Activists defend feeders
Activists call for swift action to create safe feeding spaces. They also urge authorities to prevent attacks on feeders. “Feeders are not the problem. They help ensure dogs are sterilised and vaccinated. They keep dogs gentle,” says Ambika Shukla, an activist.
NGOs managing shelters agree. Staff at Neighbourhood Woof say caregivers make sterilisation drives more efficient. “Feeders help identify dogs and make it easier to transport them. We often don’t even need sacks or ropes,” says Deepak Nagar, operations manager.
Sterilisation as a long-term solution
Experts see sterilisation and vaccination as the best long-term solution to Delhi’s dog problem. “Sterilisation is the only way forward,” says Shukla. This method has reduced rabies compared to the previous decade.
Experts note at least 70% of dogs in an area must be sterilised to break the breeding cycle.
For feeders like Malhotra, the debate is about coexistence. “One side must understand animals need compassion, not sticks. Feeders should also place food responsibly, not in front of lifts or doorways,” she says.
“The solution lies between compassion and caution.”
