NEW DELHI: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is set to launch a pilot stray dog sterilisation drive in Amar Colony, with plans to organise two camps over the next fortnight.
The move comes after the Delhi High Court on Monday directed the MCD and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to organise one sterilisation camp in one ward each as a pilot project.
Officials said the central zone is being considered, as it has a sizeable stray dog population and an active network of dog feeders, resident welfare associations (RWAs), and NGOs that can support the drive.
“We are looking at Amar Colony for the pilot because the cooperation of local dog feeders and residents is crucial. They know the dogs in the area and can help bring them to the camp. It also makes it easier to ensure every dog is returned to the same locality after sterilisation,” an MCD official said.
Every dog taken for surgery would be documented before being transported to the sterilisation centre. “A receipt will be issued mentioning the details of each dog. Once sterilisation and vaccination are complete, the dog will be handed back to the same local representative, preferably a feeder, so there is a clear record and no confusion about the animal’s return,” the official said.
Two camps are likely to be organised before the next hearing in HC on September 1, adding that preparations could take some time as a section of its field staff is currently engaged in Independence Day-related duties.
The high court has directed the camps be widely publicised through signboards and placards so residents know the dogs are being picked up only for sterilisation and vaccination and not to be sent to dog pounds. It also directed the civic bodies to issue receipts
recording the number of dogs taken from an area and return the animals to the same locality after the procedure.
Animal welfare organisations have also initiated outreach efforts to encourage institutions and residents to support the sterilisation programme. Asher Jesudoss, director of the Aloha Ahimsa Foundation, said the organisation, in coordination with the MCD, will soon begin sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination of stray dogs at the NCERT campus after receiving requisite permissions. He
said the foundation is also planning a pilot public awareness campaign in southwest Delhi through wall art.
