Delhi’s Stray Dog Crisis: CM Calls for Policy Input from Experts, Animal Welfare Community

New Delhi: Amid rising public concern and a recent Supreme Court intervention, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has directed officials to adopt a more inclusive and responsible approach toward policymaking on stray animal management. Chairing a high-level meeting on Wednesday, the Chief Minister stressed that the issue must not be treated merely as an administrative task but as a social responsibility that demands urgent and coordinated action.

Cabinet Ministers Ashish Sood and Kapil Mishra were present alongside senior officials from the relevant departments. The Chief Minister’s Office issued a statement emphasizing the need for a “holistic approach” that incorporates the perspectives of animal welfare experts and community stakeholders. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for Thursday to chart the next steps.

The meeting comes in the wake of the Supreme Court taking suo motu cognisance of a news report on rabies-related deaths caused by dog attacks in the Capital. The court’s move has added judicial urgency to a problem that residents have long raised concerns about.

Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) announced that it is accelerating its stray dog sterilisation programme in response to the growing canine population. Standing Committee chairperson Satya Sharma revealed that a sub-committee has been formed to onboard more NGOs and capable organisations to support the sterilisation drive. The panel will also seek assistance from both the Delhi and Central governments to clear procedural hurdles currently slowing progress.

“The increasing number of stray dogs has become not just a civic concern but a serious public health and safety challenge,” Sharma said. She noted that the MCD is working with various stakeholders to push for a long-term, sustainable solution.

The urgency of the matter was underscored on Wednesday after a video from Gurugram went viral, showing a woman being viciously attacked by a pet dog on Golf Course Road. The footage triggered a new wave of public outrage and calls for stricter legal accountability for pet owners who fail to control their animals. The incident occurred on Sunday and has since fueled debates on pet safety laws and public space regulations.

With political leadership now publicly acknowledging the scale and seriousness of the crisis, Delhi appears poised to move toward a more coordinated, expert-informed policy framework. However, whether this results in lasting reform will depend on how effectively public health, animal welfare, and administrative goals are aligned in the weeks ahead.