India’s top court wanted Delhi’s stray dogs gone, but it may have worsened the issue

NOIDA, India — Sujata Bisht is proud to be called the “grandma” of over 40 dogs in this city, which sits just southeast of New Delhi.

Now and then, she rounds up her team — fellow “mothers” and “fathers” who each look after about five dogs on their respective streets — to vaccinate every one of them against rabies.

“They’re like children for me,” Bisht, 55, said.

In and around India’s capital, stray dogs are as ubiquitous as humans.

They are known as “indies,” or Indian native dogs, a mixed breed recognized for being resilient and intelligent. However, managing their high numbers has become a test of governance and compassion in increasingly dense megacities such as Delhi, which has a population of over 33 million.

In August, India’s Supreme Court ordered that all stray dogs in Delhi’s capital region, which includes Noida, be permanently relocated to shelters after sterilization, citing canine bites and rabies. The decision faced immediate backlash, with protesters clashing with police and messages of solidarity from celebrities.