Canine concerns: Municipalities ignore cost-effective, structured solutions

The Supreme Court's order amplifies justifiable concerns. But it is likely to fail because it betrays a misunderstanding of municipal capabilities and the dynamics of dog population control

The Supreme Court’s order of August 11 directing municipal authorities to capture and house all stray dogs in the Delhi-National Capital Region in dedicated shelters, irrespective of their sterilisation and vaccination status, has focused on a critical urban issue. The apex court has directed the municipal authorities to set up shelters to house at least 5,000 dogs each and be equipped with sterilisation and vaccination facilities and CCTV cameras within eight weeks and report. The order is remarkable in its direction to municipal bodies to “forget the rules” — specifically the Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules — which