Mumbai Faces Critical Shortage: 90,000 Stray Dogs but Only 8 Shelters as Supreme Court Orders Relocation

Mumbai's stray dog population currently stands at approximately 90,600, according to civic officials. (Representational)

Mumbai:

Civic officials revealed on Saturday that Mumbai has over 90,000 stray dogs but only eight shelters to accommodate them. This statement came just one day after the Supreme Court ordered the relocation of stray canines to designated shelters following sterilization and vaccination.

Officials emphasized that implementing the court's directive would require establishing significantly more dog shelters throughout the metropolis.

The Supreme Court's Friday ruling, which addressed the "alarming rise" in dog bite incidents within institutional areas such as educational institutions, hospitals, and railway stations, mandated the immediate relocation of stray dogs to designated shelters after proper sterilization and vaccination.

The court noted that recurring dog bite incidents in institutional areas indicated not only administrative indifference but also a "systemic failure" to protect these premises from preventable hazards.

The Supreme Court also instructed states and Union Territories to address the "deficiencies and shortcomings" highlighted in a report submitted by the amicus curiae regarding compliance with previous court directives on the stray dog issue.

According to a census conducted by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation 11 years ago, Mumbai had approximately 95,752 stray dogs. This number has reportedly decreased by around 5,000 due to the civic body's effective animal birth control (ABC) program implemented since 2014.

The eight existing dog shelters in Mumbai have minimal capacity since authorities previously followed protocols requiring the release of stray dogs after sterilization.

To implement the Supreme Court's new directive, officials explained that Mumbai will need to substantially increase its capacity for removing stray dogs from public spaces and transferring them to shelters, where they would need to remain for their entire lives. Dogs typically live between 12 and 15 years.

"The Supreme Court directive requires sterilizing dogs before relocating them to shelters, which will need dog handlers, veterinarians, and provisions for food and water," explained a senior BMC official.

Effective implementation of the court's directive in Mumbai will require robust monitoring and execution systems. The official added that shelters must be properly secured to prevent dogs from escaping or outside canines from entering.

"Following the Supreme Court directive, even if only 30 to 40 percent of Mumbai's stray dogs are removed from educational institutions, railway stations, sports complexes, and other public places, we would need shelters capable of housing approximately 40,000 dogs," the official stated.

"A single dog pair can produce around 20 puppies annually. Due to their rapid reproduction rate, effective sterilization is essential to control their population. This is why the BMC has implemented birth control programs in the city since 1984," he explained.

According to Animal Birth Control rules, 70 percent of the total dog population must be vaccinated annually to prevent rabies transmission, a standard that has been consistently maintained.

Meanwhile, animal welfare activists have expressed concerns that removing community animals would only provide a temporary solution and might ultimately worsen the situation.

RAWW founder president advocate Pawan Sharma explained that dogs are highly territorial, and empty territories would quickly be filled by other dogs. "This exercise would be never-ending and consume tremendous resources," he said.

He added that dog populations would rapidly replenish, while confining healthy strays would negatively impact their quality of life.

"Shelters are conceptually designed for orphaned and dependent animals with disabilities. However, our strays, which are predominantly healthy, would experience a negative effect on their quality of life if confined to limited shelter spaces," Sharma stated.

While acknowledging that stray dog issues are real, Sharma maintained that immediate solutions like removal would not resolve the fundamental problems. "The solution lies in Animal Birth Control programs implemented directly by the government with NGO assistance," he suggested.

Animal rights activist Reshma Shelatkar also argued that displacing stray dogs from their territories would cause more harm than good.

"A shelter is not an appropriate environment for healthy dogs. Moreover, currently there are insufficient shelters for stray dogs and limited space for creating new ones," said Shelatkar, who personally cares for more than 200 cats and dogs.

Describing the Supreme Court order as "illogical and disheartening," she asserted that sterilization and vaccination represent the only humane methods to control dog populations and reduce bite incidents. She added that civic bodies should be held accountable for implementing these measures.

"Stray animals also possess a fundamental right to live without fear or harm. The Supreme Court should carefully reconsider its decision regarding stray animals. We should emphasize compassion and coexistence to enable harmonious living for all," Shelatkar concluded.