MCD Unveils New Plans for Stray Dog Shelters Amid Public Safety Concerns

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) announced plans to establish three new dog shelters amid concerns over stray dog management and public safety. The initiative follows pressures from the judiciary and aims to balance animal welfare and public safety. MCD also discussed over-capacity issues in cow shelters.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has announced plans to set up three new shelters for stray dogs, with development already underway for a facility in Dwarka. This move addresses growing concerns over public safety related to stray dog management.

MCD Commissioner Ashwani Kumar revealed the details while presenting the civic body's budget for 2026-27. A three-acre site in Dwarka has been identified to house between 1,000 and 1,500 aggressive or rabies-infected dogs as part of efforts to balance animal welfare with public safety.

The initiative comes after the Supreme Court's scrutiny of stray dog management policies, which initially mandated the capture of all stray dogs but later allowed the release of sterilized and vaccinated dogs back to their territories. MCD also introduced penalties for NGO-operated sterilization centers if they fail to meet standards.