Animal rights activists and dog lovers in Delhi have protested against the Municipal Corporation's plan to send stray dogs to shelters. Protesters say the move could endanger the lives of thousands of dogs, as the shelters are neither adequate nor safe. Meanwhile, the MCD is emphasizing the sterilization and vaccination of stray dogs.
Delhi: On Sunday (August 17) in the capital Delhi, animal rights activists and dog lovers rallied against the Municipal Corporation's plan to send stray dogs to shelters. The protest was held at Connaught Place, Ramlila Maidan, and Pitampura, with approximately 300-400 people participating. Protesters alleged that the shelters are neither adequate nor safe, potentially endangering the lives of the dogs. The MCD, on the other hand, stated that over 10,000 sterilizations and vaccinations are being carried out every month to deal with the stray dog problem.
Controversy over Proposal to Send Stray Dogs to Shelters in Delhi
In Delhi, on Sunday (August 17), animal rights activists and dog lovers staged a b protest against the Municipal Corporation of Delhi's (MCD) plan to send stray dogs to shelters. Protesters allege that this move will endanger the lives of thousands of dogs, as the shelters in Delhi are inadequate and unsafe. They demanded the immediate withdrawal of this plan and said that it falls under the category of animal cruelty.
Protests in Several Places in the Capital
The protests took place in several locations, including Hanuman Mandir in Connaught Place, Ramlila Maidan, and Pacific Mall in Pitampura. According to organizers, the protest began with a rally from Ramlila Maidan, which was described as the first major gathering of the animal welfare community in Delhi. Approximately 300 to 400 people participated and deemed the plan to send dogs to shelters as inhumane.
Protesters said that forcibly removing dogs that have grown up on the streets will jeopardize their lives. They argued that the Municipal Corporation has neither sufficient resources nor safe shelters, making this proposal neither a practical nor a humane solution.
MCD's Plan and Preparation
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi says that this new plan has been created to control the increasing number of stray dogs. Under this, shelters will be established in all 12 zones of the capital, and a helpline number will also be started, on which people will be able to provide information about stray dogs. Officials believe that this will enable rapid action on problems.
Currently, the MCD is sterilizing and vaccinating approximately 10,000 stray dogs every month. Several NGOs are involved in this work, and there are plans to involve more organizations in the future to expedite the process and reduce the number of dogs on the streets.
Risk of Rabies and Growing Concerns
Another major concern related to stray dogs is rabies. This disease is considered 100% fatal and can be life-threatening if treatment is not received in time. In the past few months, cases of deaths of young children and a Kabaddi player due to dog bites have come to light. According to government figures, approximately 300 people lose their lives every year in India due to rabies.
In this backdrop, the MCD says that sterilization and vaccination campaigns can be a long-term solution to the problem. However, animal rights activists say that the shelter plan alone will not solve the problem, and implementing it may worsen the situation.
