The Supreme Court’s recent directive to move all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to shelter homes has sparked debate nationwide, with Ahmedabad’s situation drawing particular concern. The city has over 2.1 lakh stray dogs, but lacks the shelter capacity to house even a fraction of them.
According to a media report, Animal welfare activist Riddhi Sanghavi, trustee of Masoom Charitable Trust, has filed a review petition against the order. She called it “inhuman” to confine such a large number of stray dogs without proper facilities, arguing that it violates the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2023. “Dogs are territorial and cannot survive in cages,” she said, urging authorities to invest in sterilisation and vaccination instead of expensive shelters.
Public Safety Concerns
Stray dogs remain a public safety issue, with 43,713 dog bite cases reported in Ahmedabad between January and July 2025. While Congress MLA Imran Khedawala alleged a shortage of rabies vaccines in hospitals, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) maintained that all health centres have adequate stock.
The AMC has spent ₹12.70 crore over the last five years on sterilisation, operating on 1,33,156 dogs, yet stray numbers remain high. Dogs are often seen chasing vehicles, resting on roads, and causing traffic hazards.
Limited Shelter Plans
To address the shortage, AMC’s Cattle Nuisance Control Department (CNCD) plans to convert a cattle shed in Vastral into a dog shelter with 90 cages at a cost of over ₹1.44 crore—far below the city’s needs.
AMC has also made pet dog registration mandatory, with fees recently raised from ₹200 to ₹2,000. So far, 18,353 pets have been registered by 16,147 owners. CNCD head Naresh Rajput said the funds will go toward dog welfare, including new shelters, a crematorium, ambulance services, health camps, dog shows, and free vaccination drives.