The Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) animal birth control (ABC) programme witnessed a sharp dip in sterilisation and immunisation in August when the Supreme Court was hearing a suo motu case related to stray dogs.
A senior official from MCD’s Veterinary Department said that between April and September this year, 54,623 stray dogs were sterilised and vaccinated.
“Sterilisation and immunisation averaged over 10,000 dogs per month in April-June, then dropped to 9,353 in July. The figure halved to 5,096 in August because, following the SC’s orders, stray dogs were picked up from streets and confined to ABC centres due to shelter shortages which disrupted the sterilisation and immunisation exercise,” the official added.
Sterilisation and immunisation rose to 8,112 in September but stayed below the 10,000 monthly average.
The SC’s August 11 order directed the civic authorities to round up all stray dogs and keep them in shelters. The ruling was partially modified on August 22, when a three-judge Bench allowed vaccinated and dewormed dogs to be released back into the same locality, except those found aggressive or rabid.
