A Decade of Delay: Delhi’s Stray Dog Census Stuck in Limbo

New Delhi: Nearly ten years after the last official count, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) remains unable to conduct a fresh survey of stray dogs across the capital. Despite multiple announcements and outlined plans, the civic body has not finalised an agency to carry out the task.

The most recent census dates to 2016, conducted by the now-defunct South Delhi Municipal Corporation. That survey estimated 1,89,285 stray dogs in the region, with sterilisation figures showing 40.3% of males and 27.8% of females had undergone the procedure.

Without updated data, officials admit that assessing the scale and urgency of sterilisation and related efforts remains difficult. "We prepared a plan to get a survey done in the re-unified corporation, but there were some objections from the finance department that needed to be answered. We also faced a problem in identifying agencies that could carry out the survey," said one MCD official.

While the survey remains stalled, another layer of planning looms: the development of a comprehensive rehabilitation policy for strays. On May 28, the Delhi High Court directed authorities to frame an institutional-level plan for their gradual removal from public spaces.

"The court's direction came in a matter related to the relocation of a south Delhi shelter by the Animal Welfare Board of India. We are expecting a meeting with all departments concerned to be called soon by the Delhi chief secretary. A policy on relocation of dogs would need a change in animal birth control rules, which currently don't permit it. As per rules, the dog can be sterilised and immunised, after which they should be left at the same location," another official clarified.

On paper, several initiatives (including increased shelter capacity and sterilisation drives) have existed for years, yet real-world impact remains limited. Asked about interventions by the Delhi government’s animal husbandry department, a senior official distanced the state government from the matter. "The matter related to stray dogs is dealt with by MCD."

Still, officials insist the corporation is making steady progress. Current efforts include targeting a 70–80% sterilisation rate in each ward, expanding shelter infrastructure, and running operations in sensitive zones such as areas near schools and hospitals.

"We have 20 animal birth control centres operated by 11 NGOs and four veterinary doctors. MCD's 250 wards are divided among them. To speed up sterilisation, the civic body is developing extra kennels at existing four dog sterilisation centres. We also plan to develop two new centres in Shahdara North, depending on availability of land. We achieved 1.3 lakh sterilisations in 2024-25, compared to 79,959 in 2023-24," an official previously stated.

In the absence of a complete census, however, these numbers float without a fixed context. Planning remains piecemeal, and policy decisions hinge on data that hasn’t been refreshed in nearly a decade. As stray populations grow and the pressure from courts mounts, the MCD continues to juggle operational hurdles with administrative inertia.