Stray Dog Management: Comparing Strategies in India, the UK, Netherlands, and Other Nations

Delhi’s efforts to comply with a Supreme Court order to relocate stray dogs face a significant challenge due to the large estimated population and lack of adequate shelters. This situation contrasts with the successful management of stray dog populations in other countries, particularly the UK, Netherlands, and Bhutan. The UK’s approach includes collecting stray dogs, checking for identification, and offering them to shelters for rehoming. Abandoning pets is illegal, with significant penalties. In municipal shelters, euthanasia is a last resort. The Netherlands is a leader in this area, achieving “stray dog-free” status by using a CNVR program. Stray dogs are caught, sterilized, vaccinated and then returned to a controlled environment or put up for adoption. Heavy taxes on commercially bought dogs encourage adoption from shelters. Animal abuse and abandonment have serious consequences. Bhutan implemented a successful dog sterilization program, achieving a 100% sterilization rate in 2023. More than 150,000 dogs were sterilized. Morocco employs TNVR, with government funding. Turkey mandates removal, with adoption and possible euthanasia. Japan, China, and Switzerland also have their own methods for controlling the stray dog population. Japan focuses on adoption, China is focused on vaccination and responsible pet ownership, and Switzerland has strict laws against abandonment.