Dogs are admittedly man’s best friends, but also a rising menace. Delhi saw a 40 percent rise in dog bites in 2024, when compared to the previous year. However, there have also been several reports of cruelty against dogs.
To tackle the rising dog population, Delhi’s Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced the rehabilitation of stray dogs as part of a large-scale cleanliness drive in the national capital. Many animal welfare organisations and dog lovers slammed the announcement and protested against it on April 20 at Jantar Mantar.
“This is a very insensitive announcement. Where will they relocate them? Will they make new shelters? Why not sterilise them and let them stay on the streets, the place they know the best?” said one of the protesters, a professor at Delhi University.
While animal lovers argue for efficient sterilisation, rehabilitation and a comprehensive dog census, and stricter punishment for dog cruelty, residents continue to live in fear of dog attacks. Newslaundry talked to several stakeholders, experts and analysed the legal provisions to understand the issues, and the possible solutions of the dog problem.
Dogs attacks on the rise
In 2024, Delhi saw 25,210 dog bite cases, a significant rise from 16,133 in 2023, data from the Ministry of Family and Welfare revealed (full dataset on Dataful here). In January, a toddler died after being attacked by stray dogs. In another disturbing video shared on X, a woman is seen being attacked by street dogs. However, there were no deaths related to human rabies.
Seven months ago, Sanjay Kumar, a Zomato delivery rider, sustained Grade 2 injuries (wounds that tear the skin but do not expose underlying muscle) after two dogs bit his leg while he was out during a late-night delivery in Burari, North Delhi.
“A security guard from a nearby residential complex intervened with a stick, causing the dogs to flee. I knew I’d have to get injections and might need a week off work, but I felt fortunate – it could have been much worse,” Kumar told Newslaundry.
Ranjit Kumar from Dwarka told Newslaundry how dogs bit his brother Suraj’s left calf. As Suraj was able to stand up and shoo away the dogs by swinging his bag the dogs left soon. “The wound didn’t cut through his skin and he got minor injuries. We took him to the doctor immediately,” he said.
Surender Khanna, president of the RWA of Vigyan Lok Anand Vihar, says, “There are nearly 16 stray dogs here in four of our lanes, and none of them have been sterilised by the MCD [Municipal Corporation of Delhi].”
Dr Suresh Kumar who works in a private hospital in Qutub Industrial area told Newslaundry, “In the context of dog bites, a Category 1 injury is a light scrape or superficial wound with little to no bleeding. A Category 2 bite breaks through the skin more noticeably, often causing bleeding and possible tissue damage. A Category 3 bite is the most serious, where the wound is deep enough to expose the muscles underneath. Vaccination isn’t needed only in Category 1 cases.”
Dr Kumar agrees that dog menace has increased in the city with his hospital seeing at least 10 cases of dog bites each month. “Several adults who go for morning walks come with dog bites”.
He has rarely seen any cases of rabies but explains that “in all dog bites cases, whether by a pet or stray dog, vaccination is important for the human attacked to make sure they are not infected”.
“Once a human is bitten by a dog, they also become carriers of rabies, so vaccination is a must to make sure it doesn't spread,” he adds.
On April 27, 2025, Vijay Goel, along with more than 100 RWAs and NGOs from across Delhi, protested at Jantar Mantar under the banner, "Stray Dog Menace". The protesters demanded 100 percent sterilisation of stray dogs.
“If you are feeding the dogs, why can't you adopt them? These dogs are on the roads helpless and thereby bite people,” Goel said at the protest.
Ranjit Singh, a Kalkaji resident at the protest, said, “We are not against any animal. We don't want to kill any animals or stray animals. But we just want vaccination and sterilisation.”
Pooja Singh, another resident of Kalkaji who was not present at the protest but agreed she would have attended if she had a chance, said, “I have a kid who is seven now, but a year back, while he was on the road bicycling, a pack of dogs came out of nowhere and attacked him. What if I was not there? God knows what could have happened to my son.”
Pushpa Deep who works as a domestic worker in Greater Kailash and lives in Shastri Park tells about the menace the street dogs create near her house. “Sometimes, it is very difficult to return from work after sundown because there are so many street dogs”.
She recalls being attacked by a dog last year in August when she was returning from work. The dog apparently pulled her sari and tried to drag her down to the ground. “I escaped somehow but the dog scratched my arms and I had to visit the doctor to make sure if I needed the vaccination or not”.
She said she had to take a tetanus shot since she hadn't had it in the last five years but “since they were just bruises I had no need for vaccination”.
Assault on dogs
Many stray dogs are also subjected to brutal assaults, where they are beaten, poisoned, or illegally relocated by frustrated locals. On April 12, 2025, a man was arrested in Delhi’s Kailash Nagar for sexually assaulting more than 12 female dogs. In another incident this January, a security guard was booked for killing a dog.
A student from Netaji Subhash University, who was present at the April 22 protest in Jantar Mantar, said, “Firstly, the government or MCD hardly takes any action to sterilise stray dogs. When we, as animal welfare NGOs, do it, they want to relocate them?”
Pankaj Kapoor, a resident of Dwarka who has been feeding and caring for 350 dogs in his area for several years, believed there is a need for a stricter policy when stray dogs are assaulted.
“Often, dogs are killed but the police don't help with FIRs,” said Kapoor.
Ajay Joe, an activist with the animal welfare organisation Pashu Premi Niswarth Seva, told Newslaundry of the rape of a two-month-old puppy in Saket in April. He along with his colleague Renu followed up on this case for two days and ensured that an FIR was registered.
According to him, while police are fully involved in the investigation of the matter, he is shocked to know about the same and says, “Rape of animals and acts of bestiality has become so normalised in society today that men are now shamelessly committing such crimes with animals openly on the streets, without fear of the law, and even getting filmed during the act.”
Dr Asher Jesudoss, Member, Executive Committee, Delhi Animal Welfare Board said that with the omission of Section 377, IPC in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), India has lost one of the few provisions explicitly criminalising sexual violence against animals.
“This legal vacuum isn’t just about animal cruelty - it’s a public safety issue. Studies show that criminals who abuse animals often go on to harm women, children, and other vulnerable groups. We urgently need specific, stringent laws to treat sexual violence against animals as a serious crime,” said Dr Jesudoss.
According Joe, the suspect in the puppy rape case is absconding. Nanita Sharma, Secretary General of Conference for Human rights, an advocate in the Supreme Court tells that Section 325 of the BNS states that whoever commits mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering useless any animal shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both.
Ayesha Christina Benn, Chief Executive Officer, Neighbourhood Woof, one of the NGOs working with the MCD for dog sterilisation, agrees that it is difficult to report cases of assault or beating against dogs.
“It is very difficult to file an FIR, we need to involve senior police officers sometimes just to file an FIR”.
Newslaundry contacted the Delhi Police PRO to understand how Delhi police manages the cases both related to dog bites and cruelty against dogs. We were told to send an email and the report will be updated when a response is received.
Lax enforcement of animal welfare rules
Sharma, points out that CM Gupta’s announcement of rehabilitation of stray dogs violates the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023.
“The MCD or government authorities cannot pick up stray animals and relocate them according to the Animal Birth Control Rules 2023; thus the relocation is not legally allowed,” she says.
The rules mention that the Supreme Court has, “in various orders specifically mentioned that relocation of dogs cannot be permitted.”
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA Act), enacted in 1960, was designed to prevent the infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering on animals. Under Section 11(1)(i), abandoning an animal in circumstances where it is likely to suffer from hunger or thirst constitutes cruelty.
Sharma highlighted that under the ABC Rules, Rule 8(1) and Rule 8(2) clearly place responsibility for sterilisation, immunisation, and deworming on pet dog owners and local authorities, respectively.
“Local authorities, such as the MCD, are directly in charge of carrying out sterilisation programs and may engage animal welfare organisations for this purpose," she said.
Newslaundry reached out to MCD with questions about the same. The report will be updated if a response is received.
In 2014, the Supreme Court strengthened the legal standing of animal rights in a landmark judgment banning the bull-taming sport Jallikattu. The Court described the Constitution as the “Magna Carta of animal rights,” interpreting Article 51A(g) – which mandates compassion for all living creatures – and linking it to Article 21, which guarantees the fundamental right to life and personal liberty. The Court noted that protection of animal life and disruption of the natural environment could amount to a violation of Article 21.
The ABC Rules 2023 mandate humane and scientific population control through sterilisation and immunisation – not removal or killing. Specifically, sub-sections (3) and (8) of Section 11 state that all dogs caught for sterilization must be fitted with numbered collars upon arrival at an ABC center, and must be released back to the exact locality from where they were captured. Nanita Sharma pointed out that the rules were designed with the intention of ensuring that relocation or indiscriminate removal of dogs cannot happen.
This approach aligns with global standards. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognised the ABC programme as the most effective and humane method to manage stray dog populations, emphasizing sterilisation over culling.
Indian courts have consistently upheld this framework. In the 2021 case of Dr. Maya D. Chablani vs. Radha Mittal, the Delhi High Court reaffirmed that stray dogs are protected under the PCA Act and the ABC Rules must be followed.
More recently, in July 2024, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Sanjay Karol ruled that “under all circumstances, there cannot be any indiscriminate killings of canines,” directing authorities to act strictly in line with the spirit of existing legislation.
As Sharma notes, “This aligns with Rule 11(19) of the ABC Rules, which mandates that sterilized dogs be returned to the same locality they were captured from, ensuring their protection and safety”. She also mentions that violations of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA Act), 1960, such as cruelty to animals, can lead to serious consequences, including penalties under criminal law, as stipulated in Section 325 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The PCA Act clearly prohibits acts of cruelty towards animals, which includes assaulting or beating dogs, aligning with the judicial emphasis on preventing unnecessary suffering to animals.
Benn points out that some relocation happens improperly. “The relocation happens when the dogs are picked up for sterilization and then they are left in a different location. Of the total cases that come to our centre 70 per cent of them are of the dogs who have been relocated and then they are traumatised in their unfamiliar surroundings.”
She further explains that they have been handed seven wards in Timapur, “but how am I supposed to control the number of dog bites here when data of dog bites isn't shared with us?”.
Animal welfare organisations blame the MCD for delays in sterilisation of dogs.
Prashant*, a driver with the MCD dog-catching squad, tells Newslaundry how the process of dog catching actually works.
“We try to catch them first with care but if the dog is very wild, we then try to bring in the nets and get the dog in the van somehow”.
In the process, the dogs sometimes even bite them. “I have been bitten by the dogs myself twice last year but what else can we do; this is our job,” says Prashant.
The dog is then taken to the nearest or the designated ABC centre for sterilisation. He says his duties involve just picking up the dog. Later, it is the NGOs duty to leave the dog back to the place they are picked from.
“We usually note the number and address of the people who call us to make sure that the NGOs are dropping the dogs at the same place,” he says.
Sharma says that under Rule 11(3), authorities must put up public notices and banners informing residents about the upcoming dog captures for sterilisation and immunisation. This aligns with the objective of transparency and public cooperation. “This rule is often not followed in practice. The failure to implement these announcements contributes to a lack of awareness and sometimes confusion or fear among residents, especially about the humane nature of the ABC program,” said Sharma.
Sharma says, “I have sent a representation to the Chief Minister telling her that relocation is not possible. The thing they can do is sterilisation, which the government or MCD is not doing. All government authorities are keeping quiet, and the dogs are being treated as a menace.”
Does the MCD need to step up?
Currently, MCD has enrolled 11 NGOs and four veterinary doctors to sterilise dogs in 250 wards via 20 sterilisation centres. According to a report titled "Technology for Improving Street Dog Welfare and Capturing Data in Digital Format during Street Dog Sterilisation Programmes", the required sterilisation rate is 83 percent in female dogs “to successfully interrupt the breeding cycle of the population and noticeably reduce the population." The study was conducted by researchers from Humane Society International, including Amit Chaudhari, George Brill, Indira Chakravarti, Tim Drees, and others. The researchers developed a digital tracking system to monitor and record street dog sterilization efforts in real time.
However, according to a 2019 MCD report, only 55 per cent of dogs were sterilised in New Delhi, while South Delhi had sterilization rates of 40.3 percent for males and 27.8 percent for females. The report notes that similar data for other MCD zones was not available. A key point of contention is the actual dog population in Delhi. The same report estimated 1,89,485 dogs in South Delhi and 8,000 in New Delhi.
Residents say no action has been taken even after the Chief Minister's announcement of dog rehabilitation.
Khanna says, “As of now, no relocation or picking up of dogs has happened in our area. I’m not sure how long we have to keep up with this menace.”
One of the animal welfare activists at the April 22 protest said, “Dogs don’t bite unprovoked; they usually get irritated when disturbed while they are eating or when they are beaten by sticks. They develop the tendency to protect themselves; they might attack hostile people”.
In a meeting with residents of Rohini Sector 3 and Paschim Vihar on April 20, 2025, BJP leader and former Union minister Vijay Goel claimed Delhi alone has over eight lakh stray dogs.
However, there has been no city-wide dog census since 2009. “We are trying for a city-wide census to get the correct picture since old numbers might not be accurate,” says Benn.
According to Sharma, the last proper dog census was done in 2009, recording 5,60,000 stray dogs. She has filed a plea in the Delhi High Court in 2024 regarding MCD’s sterilisation efforts.
In response, MCD stated that 4,78,545 dogs were sterilised between 2017 and 2023. However, Sharma’s petition mentions, “Census of stray dogs at regular intervals is necessary because sterilisations have to be proportionate to the population to achieve the desired result. It is a known fact that a female dog could have two-three litters a year, producing seven-eight pups each time, meaning that if dogs are not sterilised regularly, the population could increase at an alarming rate.”
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