Last checked against official sources on 20-10-2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
If street dogs in your Delhi neighbourhood aren’t sterilised, or you have a problem with how a sterilisation drive was carried out, the body responsible is the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). This guide explains how MCD’s Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme works and how to raise a complaint. For more on caring for dogs, visit our dog hub.
The law behind it
- The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 were notified by the central government on 10 March 2023 (G.S.R. 193(E)) under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, replacing the 2001 dog rules. [S1]
- Under the rules, the local authority may conduct the ABC programme to reduce the number of stray dogs. [S1]
- The government’s position, stated in Parliament, is that stray dogs can only be managed by controlling their population through animal birth control. [S1]
How MCD runs ABC
- The programme is handled by MCD’s Department of Veterinary Services. [S2]
- MCD carries out sterilisation and immunisation of stray dogs through NGOs and animal welfare organisations, which it invites to apply. [S2]
- Areas or wards are allotted to these organisations by the Veterinary Services Department. [S2]
- The organisation must record each dog’s release back in the same area it was picked up from. [S2]
- MCD’s 2024 notice also offered a dog sterilisation centre at the Delhi government’s veterinary hospital in Prahaladpur. [S2]
How to request sterilisation or complain
- Register a complaint on the MCD 311 app. It’s MCD’s official app for civic complaints, available 24×7, with photo and location upload and status tracking. [S3]
- Contact MCD’s Veterinary Services. MCD’s ABC notice lists the Deputy Director (Veterinary Services), Rabies Control Programme: 011-23226724, 9717787377, ddvsrcpmcd@gmail.com. [S2] These details are from a February 2024 notice, so they may have changed.
- Put it in writing. Give the exact location, how many dogs, whether any have ear notches (a sign they’ve already been sterilised), and photos.
If dogs were picked up and not returned
MCD’s own conditions for the programme require dogs to be released back in the same area they were picked up from. [S2] If dogs from your area weren’t returned, note the date, location and the vehicle or organisation involved, and raise it with the Veterinary Services contact above. For relocation rules, see our guide to the ABC Rules 2023 on relocation.
Feeding and your RWA
Under the ABC Rules, it’s the responsibility of the resident welfare association (or the apartment owners’ association, or the local body’s representative) to make arrangements for feeding community animals in the area. [S1] See our guide to feeding street dogs responsibly.
The Pawsitive Hoomans Take
Sterilisation only works if almost every dog in an area is covered, so one well-documented request from a group of residents carries more weight than many vague ones. Count the dogs, photograph them, note which are already ear-notched, and send it all in one complaint.
🐾 Caring for a community dog? Keep its sterilisation and rabies vaccination dates in a free Pet Passport, and use the Vaccination Tracker for its yearly rabies shot.
Frequently asked questions
Who sterilises street dogs in Delhi?
MCD’s Department of Veterinary Services runs the ABC programme through NGOs and animal welfare organisations it appoints. [S2]
Must sterilised dogs be returned to the same area?
Yes. MCD’s conditions require each dog’s release back in the same area to be recorded. [S2]
How do I complain about street dogs not being sterilised in Delhi?
Use the MCD 311 app [S3], or contact MCD’s Deputy Director (Veterinary Services), Rabies Control Programme. [S2] For all MCD and NDMC contact numbers, see our Delhi street dog complaint numbers.
Which law covers dog sterilisation in India?
The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, notified on 10 March 2023. [S1]
Sources and last checked
- [S1] Lok Sabha Unstarred Question 633 (06-02-2024), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying – eparlib.nic.in (PDF) – Last checked: 20-10-2026
- [S2] Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Department of Veterinary Services, public notice inviting applications from NGOs/AWOs for sterilisation and immunisation of stray dogs under the ABC programme (last date 22-02-2024) – mcdonline.nic.in (PDF) – Last checked: 20-10-2026
- [S3] Municipal Corporation of Delhi, official account on X, MCD 311 app – x.com/MCD_Delhi and x.com/MCD_Delhi (24×7 post) – Last checked: 20-10-2026
Disclaimer: PawsitiveHoomans is an independent information resource and is not affiliated with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. This is general information, not legal advice.