Microchipping, Vaccination Records: Delhi Announces Action Plan For Pet, Stray Dogs' Management

 Here’s a summary of what the reports say about Delhi’s new action plan for managing stray dogs, including microchipping, vaccination, and other measures — plus some of the concerns being raised. If you like, I can pull up the full text of the plan later.

---

What’s been announced

1. Microchipping of stray dogs

   • The Delhi government will microchip about 10 lakh (1 million) stray/street dogs over the next two years.

   • This is to help track their medical history (vaccination, sterilisation etc.), monitor movement, and improve accountability. 

2. Rabies control / vaccination tracking

   • A State Action Plan on Rabies will be prepared, with emphasis on prevention of dog bites, digitisation of vaccination records, etc. 

   • Part of the plan is converting some veterinary hospitals into dedicated vaccination centres: out of 78 government veterinary hospitals, 24 will serve as vaccine centres. 

3. Dog census / monitoring system

   • To get better data, a dog census and digital monitoring system will be implemented. 

     

4. Regulating pet shops

   • Pet shops will be required to register; an Animal Market Monitoring Committee will be formed.

5. Feeding zones, shelters, helpline, committees

   • Dedicated feeding zones (instead of people feeding dogs randomly in public spaces), shelters for aggressive or rabid dogs, a helpline for reporting stray dogs, monitoring committees at district/regional level are all part of the policy. 

6. Collaboration & funding

   • Collaboration with UNDP for microchipping efforts.

   • Additional staff, activation of regional and district welfare committees, better financing via the Delhi Animal Welfare Board etc. 

---

What legal / court orders are involved

• The Supreme Court had issued directions regarding stray dog management, including sterilisation, vaccination, immunisation, and release of non-aggressive and healthy dogs back into their localities. 

• The court also modified some aspects: banning feeding in public spaces, but mandating feeding zones, etc. 

---

Concerns / challenges being raised

• Cost & resources — Some animal welfare experts say that the per-dog cost budgeted (for microchipping, sterilisation, vaccination etc.) is lower than what may be needed for quality / effectiveness. They argue higher investment per dog is needed. 

• Shelter capacity — There's concern about the ability to house aggressive or rabid dogs, or to manage overnight or long-term shelter needs. 

• Implementation & monitoring — Whether the monitoring committees, digital tracking, census / data systems etc. will function as planned is being questioned. Coordination among NGOs, government bodies (MCD, NDMC etc.), veterinary hospitals etc. will be vital.

  

• Awareness & public cooperation — Public feeding in non-designated places is to be prohibited; to enforce that and to get people to use the feeding zones will need public awareness and enforcement.