From Delhi’s Stray Dog Crisis to International Solutions: A Comparative Analysis

The Supreme Court’s directive regarding stray dogs in Delhi and the NCR has placed significant pressure on local authorities, given the estimated 8 lakh stray dogs and the need for shelter provisions. This situation highlights the complexities of managing stray animal populations, especially when compared to successful models in countries like the UK, Netherlands, and Bhutan. In the UK, local authorities are legally obligated to collect stray dogs, check for identification, and offer them to shelters. Euthanasia is a final recourse. Abandoning pets is considered a crime, enforced with severe penalties, thus decreasing the number of abandoned animals. The Netherlands has achieved a “stray dog-free” status via its CNVR program. The program involves catching stray dogs, sterilizing, vaccinating, and then returning them to a controlled environment or adoption. There is a tax incentive to adopt from shelters. Strict laws against animal abuse and abandonment are actively enforced. Bhutan achieved 100% sterilization in 2023 through a comprehensive program that began in 2021. More than 150,000 stray dogs were sterilized as a result. Morocco uses a TNVR program with investment from the government. Turkey has mandated the removal of stray dogs from urban areas, focusing on adoption and offering euthanasia as an option. Japan, China, and Switzerland also present differing approaches to stray dog population control. Japan focuses on adoption and low-cost spaying and neutering programs. China focuses on vaccination, registration and responsible dog ownership. Switzerland has strict regulations and penalties for animal abandonment.