Mumbai faces a significant challenge in managing its stray dog population, with over 90,000 dogs and only eight shelters available. This disparity has prompted concerns from civic officials, especially following a recent Supreme Court directive regarding the relocation of stray canines.
The Supreme Court's order, issued on Friday, mandates that stray dogs be moved to designated shelters after undergoing sterilization and vaccination. This decision was influenced by the increasing number of dog bite incidents reported in institutional areas such as schools, hospitals, and railway stations, which the court described as reflecting "administrative apathy" and a "systemic failure". The court has also directed states and union territories to address the shortcomings outlined in a report concerning compliance with previous directives related to the stray dog issue.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials have acknowledged the need for more shelters to implement the Supreme Court's order effectively. Currently, the existing shelters have limited capacity because the BMC previously released dogs back into the streets after sterilization, a practice that is no longer viable under the new mandate. The previous mandate allowed the civic body to release the dogs after sterilisation. According to officials, even if only 30% to 40% of the stray dogs are removed from public spaces, the shelters would need to accommodate approximately 40,000 dogs.
Despite the challenges, the BMC's Animal Birth Control (ABC) program, which has been active since 2014, has made some progress in controlling the stray dog population. A census conducted by the BMC 11 years ago showed at least 95,752 stray dogs in Mumbai, but that number has decreased by about 5,000. Currently, the city's stray dog population stands at approximately 90,600. A survey in April 2025, showed that the street dog population in Mumbai has declined by 21% in the past decade. The report also found that while dog population declined by an average of 31% in 19 municipal wards, it increased by 19.9% in four municipal wards.
Implementing the Supreme Court's directive will require significant logistical and financial investments. The process involves identifying, sterilizing, vaccinating, and permanently housing the dogs in shelters. Each shelter must have adequate resources, including animal handlers, veterinarians, food, and water. The shelters also need to be properly fenced to prevent dogs from escaping or other canines from entering. Given that a pair of dogs can produce around 20 puppies a year, effective sterilization programs are essential.
The Welfare of Stray Dogs (WSD) is a non-profit trust dedicated to helping street dogs. Since 1985, they have provided rescue, medical care, sterilization, and vaccination programs.
