Delhi split over the meal of stray dogs after order from the Supreme Court

Days after the order of India’s best court, the issue of stray dogs in Delhi in the spotlight has been raised in the city. Animal lovers say they face hostility, and sometimes even violence for homeless care, while people who believe that dogs should be on the street claim that they can be aggressive and dangerous.

Mega Malchotra has been feeding stray dogs in its residential complex for almost two years.

Every night she puts food for a temporary meal near the exit gate of her building. “I like to take care of them and feed them,” she says.

But in recent weeks, she has felt increasing anxiety among residents every time she released the food. Some have even encountered her, insisting that it is to stop feeding the animals, she says.

D -Malchotra says she usually prefers to stay calm in such situations. But in late there are cases where she had to be firm.

Such confrontations become common in Delhi and many Indian cities, as civilian authorities are struggling with a rapidly developing population of stray dogs. Those who feed dogs do it from compassion, and those who oppose are quoting the biggest number of dog bites and attacks, some of which are also fatal.

Animal lovers claim that much of the confusion stems from a recent order of the Supreme Court, which regained a polarizing debate: How should India manage its stray population of dogs in densely populated cities?

In August, the court changed its more directive, requiring all stray dogs in Delhi to be moved to shelters. Instead, he ruled that dogs need to be caught, vaccinated, sterilized and returned to their neighborhood – but with a warning that aggressive dogs and those who wear rabies should be moved to shelters.

The court also banned the feeding of groceries in public spaces and asked civilian authorities to identify specific areas where dogs could receive food.

But some residents interpreted this as a ban on a blanket on dog nutrition.

Long -time dog care claims that they have been harassed, attacked and threatened, often by their own neighbors, who now believe that eating homeless is illegal. In some cases, residents have tried to pull dogs from eating stains to prevent people from providing them with food.

“There is fear in the minds of humans (that the dog would attack them). What they do not receive is that these animals just need love and care,” says G -Malchotra.

Homeless dogs are a known presence in Indian cities, especially in Delhi, which is thought to have nearly a million homeless – although there is no official number in the last decade.

Most of these dogs are not considered wild. They are more treated as “public animals”, live with humans and rely on them for food. From closed colonies to roadside tea stalls, they are woven into the fabric of everyday urban life.

However, the increasing number of people in Delhi and its satellite cities say they are afraid of dog bites and claim that homeless compromise safety and sewage around their homes and public places. Homeless dog packages can often be seen chasing children and the elderly.

“My husband and I are afraid to send their children to play unattended. What happens if a dog bites them? Who will be responsible?” Says an even single, a resident of North Delhi.

Government data show The fact that 3.7 million cases of dog bites were reported in 2024, of which over 25,000 were reported by Delhi.

Although there are a large number of stray dogs, India does not have a comprehensive policy for their management program for animal birth control (ABC), which aims to reduce aggression and population through sterilization and vaccination.

There are 25 ABC centers in Delhi, which work in a simple term: sterilize and vaccinate stray dogs, then return them to your original neighborhoods. However, these centers are rearranged and are often challenged in receiving funds for trouble -free operations.

Meanwhile, municipal officials in Delhi have begun to work to identify dog ​​nutrition sites in accordance with the court order.

Hindustan Times newspaper He announced that the subcommittee of stray dogs has decided that the sanitary workers in each area will work with people and associations for the well -being of the homes to identify these places.

The BBC addressed the mayor’s office and wrote to municipal officials for comment, but did not receive an answer.

Activists say that the authorities should move quickly to creating these spaces, while ensuring that the feeders do not attack in the meantime.

“The power supplies have never been the problem. They are an important part of the solution,” says Activist Ambika Shukla. “They are the ones who guarantee that the dogs are sterilized and vaccinated. They are the ones that keep them gentle.”

The shelters agree. The staff in the Delhi-based Woof neighborhood say that sterilization discs are far more effective when participating locals who care for them.

“The power supplies help us identify dogs and their presence facilitates their collection and charging in vans. Most of the time we don’t even need sacks or ropes,” says Deepak Nagar, who manages the surgery in the shelter.

In the absence of a clear strategy to deal with the problem, experts believe that sterilization and vaccination remain the best long-term solutions for Delhi’s dog content.

“Sterilization is the only way forward,” says G -ja Shukla, adding that the method also helped reduce rabies compared to the previous decade.

However, experts say that at least 70% of stray dogs in an area must be sterilized in order to disrupt the breeding cycle and effectively reduce their population.

For feeders such as d, a talchotra, the debate is more than just numbers. It is about awareness and joint existence.

“One side must understand that animals need compassion, not sticks and cells. The other side (these meals) should also be more responsible. The food should be placed in a sure angle, not in front of elevators or doors,” she says.

“The decision consists between compassion and caution.”

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