The Supreme Court’s condition of two Animal Birth Control (ABC) centers of Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD) was found to be worrying in a ground investigation of India Today after the Supreme Court’s order to hold stray dogs immediately and keep stray dogs in a shelter permanently.
The Supreme Court bench headed by Justice JB Pardiwala ordered 5,000 stray dogs to be caught from sensitive areas, sterilization and permanently keeping them in shelter within six weeks in Delhi, Noida and Gurugram. In eight weeks, the court directed to make shelters for dogs and not to leave the caught dogs back on the streets under any circumstances.
This decision came after the increase in the deaths of dogs and the deaths due to rabies, which the court described as a ‘serious situation’ and said that there is no place for any kind of feelings in it. However, animal welfare organizations have strongly opposed this order, described it as unscientific and illegal. On Tuesday, the police registered a case against the activists who demonstrated at India Gate in Delhi, citing security sanctions before Independence Day.
MCD’s ABC centers condition
In this episode, India Today visited MCD’s ABC centers to check the status which is run in association with private organizations. The MCD ABC Center in Lajpat Nagar, which is run by the Animal India Trust (Reg.), Was found closed. Despite repeated knocking, the employees did not come and the gate remained closed. At Masoodpur sterilization center of Vasant Kunj, where 400 dogs have a capacity, the only doctor on duty was absent due to viral fever.
Information about surgery was not shown here, the doctor’s room was closed and there was no record of the dogs being brought. The center was dirty, some fans were working, nothing. Five to six dogs were kept together in a kennel. There was no chart update and the food of the dogs was open. The preparation room here was very dark and there was no bathing facility. Employees claimed that dogs are left in three days after sterilization, but many dogs had not yet undergone surgery.
The Tughlakabad ABC Center, which has been leased to the Yash Domestic Research Center in Gujarat, was first closed. On this NGO, the Animal Welfare Board of India in 2020 and 2021 ordered a suspension for ‘illegal, irresponsible and cruel animal activities’. When the center opened, the employees said that it has a capacity of 90 dogs and a dog sterilization takes five days i.e. 540 surgery per month.
There were 22 small (2.5 x 4 ft) enclosures in the center, where four dogs were being kept per enclosure. There were dates of 10 or 11 June on the surgery board i.e. dogs were kept for more than five days.
Investigation also revealed that this center was being used to keep the ‘VIP movement dogs’ caught from Rajghat, which raises the question of misuse of resources. Preparations for food were seen, but the log book was not given because the doctor on duty was absent, who said that his bike was spoiled.
Shelter shortage in Delhi
According to MCD sources, Delhi has no dedicated shelter for dogs and only 20 sterilization centers, which have a total capacity of about 2,500 dogs. Experts say that to control the population of stray dogs, sterilization of at least 70 percent of dogs is necessary, which is not possible with existing features.
MCD employees said that local people protest against catching dogs for sterilization or leaving later. But due to the order of the Supreme Court, they have to follow these instructions despite the challenges.
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