Delhi Identifies 292 Stray Dog Feeding Points After SC Order

New Delhi: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has identified 292 designated feeding points for stray dogs across the city, following a directive from the Supreme Court of India. The civic body has distributed these feeding points across its 12 administrative zones to ensure that community dogs are provided food in specific, marked locations in accordance with the court’s guidelines. 

According to officials, the West Zone has the highest number of feeding points at 60, followed by Najafgarh Zone with 54. The Central Zone has four feeding points, while City Sadar Paharganj has eight. Civil Lines has six, Karol Bagh has 15, Keshav Purnam has 29, Rohini has 29, Shahdara North has 15, Shahdara South has 40, and the South Zone has 16 feeding points. These numbers have been finalised after consultations between area councillors, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), and local ward officials. 

The Supreme Court, in its order dated August 22, 2025, directed municipal bodies to designate specific feeding areas for community dogs and prohibited feeding them in public spaces, such as roads and open areas. The order also stated that all stray dogs picked up for sterilisation or vaccination must be released back into the same locality after treatment, except for those found to be aggressive or inflected with rabies.

In compliance with the court's order, the MCD has begun installing boards at the designated locations to clearly mark the feeding points. These boards will carry notices indicating that stray dogs are to be fed only in those specific areas. The engineering department of the civic body has been assigned the task of installing the signage, and officials said the process is underway in all zones.

A senior MCD official said that identifying suitable locations took time as the spots had to be chosen carefully to avoid public inconvenience. Feeding points were selected in areas that do not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular movement and are away from sensitive public zones. The civic body is also planning to identify additional points to ensure that every ward has at least one designated feeding area. 

In addition to making feeding zones, the MCD is working on establishing a dedicated shelter for aggressive dogs in Dwarka Sector 29. The facility, spread across nearly three acres, will accommodate dogs that cannot be released back into the community due to health or behavioural reasons. The plan is part of the larger effort to manage the city’s stray dog population in line with the Supreme Court’s directions. 

The identification of 292 feeding points across 80 wards marks a significant step in the implementation of the court’s order. Civic officials said the process will continue until all 250 wards in Delhi have designated feeding zones. The MCD is also coordinating with the Animal Husbandry Department to ensure effective sterilisation, vaccination, and monitoring of community dogs. 

The initiative follows a period of legal and public debate after the Supreme Court’s earlier order of August 11, which had called for the removal of stray dogs from public spaces. Following criticism from animal welfare organisations and civic bodies, the court modified its directions to allow the feeding and management of community dogs through a structured approach.

Delhi’s new feeding point system aims to strike a balance between animal welfare and public safety. While ensuring that stray dogs are cared for in a controlled and humane manner, the initiative also seeks to prevent unregulated feeding in public areas that could cause inconvenience or risk to residents.