How UK And ‘Stray Dog-Free’ Netherlands Beat The Menace! News24 –

With an estimated 8 lakh stray dogs and no government shelters currently available, Delhi faces significant challenges in complying with the Supreme Court order of moving all the stray dogs to a shelter. The Supreme Court’s directive on stray dogs in Delhi and the NCR has sparked widespread concern in the region. The court has ordered the government, civic bodies, and authorities to relocate all stray dogs from residential areas to shelters within eight weeks. It warned that any organisation obstructing this process will face severe consequences.

Described as a herculean task, the situation contrasts with the effective and logical approaches of countries like the UK, Bhutan, and the stray dog-free Netherlands, which have successfully managed their stray dog populations.

How UK Tackle Stray Dog Menace

The UK government has implemented policies to address stray dogs, focusing on public safety, animal welfare, and cost efficiency. Below is a detailed overview of how the UK and other countries tackle the stray dog issue, based on available information and drawing parallels to the deportation policy context you previously asked about.

• In the UK, stray dog management prioritizes collection, identification, and rehoming, with euthanasia as a last resort:
• Collection and Sheltering: Local authorities are legally required to collect stray dogs and check for identification (e.g., microchips). If owners are not found within seven days, dogs are transferred to shelters for rehoming.
• Abandoning pets is illegal, punishable by up to three years in prison and fines up to £45,000 (over ₹53 lakh). This deters owners from abandoning dogs, reducing the stray population.
• In municipal shelters, dogs that are not adopted may be euthanised after seven days. However, many animal welfare organisations follow a “no-kill” policy, meaning they do not put animals to sleep unless the dog is suffering from a severe illness or has serious behavioural issues that make it dangerous.

Netherlands

• CNVR Program: The Netherlands is a global leader, achieving “stray dog-free” status through its Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (CNVR) program. Stray dogs are captured, sterilized, vaccinated, and either returned to controlled environments or adopted
• A heavy tax on store-bought dogs encourages adoption from shelters. Over 90% of Dutch households adopt rather than purchase pets.
• Animal abuse or abandonment incurs up to three years in prison and fines of €16,000–€18,500. A pet-police force enforces these laws, rescuing animals and penalizing offenders.

Bhutan

In 2023, Bhutan, India’s neighbor, achieved 100% sterilization of its stray dog population through the “Nationwide Accelerated Dog Population Management and Rabies Control Programme.” Launched in 2021, this initiative built on 14 years of efforts to sterilize and vaccinate stray dogs.Since 2021, 61,680 dogs were sterilized, with 56,251 (91%) being free-ranging strays and the remainder pets. During the campaign, 58,581 dogs (95%) were vaccinated against rabies, and 32,544 pet dogs were microchipped and registered. Overall, more than 150,000 stray dogs were sterilized.

Morocco

Morocco uses a Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) program, capturing stray dogs, sterilizing and vaccinating them, and returning them to their original locations. Sick or dangerous dogs are euthanized humanely. The government invested $23 million over five years to support this initiative, focusing on rabies prevention and population control.

Turkey

In July 2024, Turkey mandated municipalities to remove approximately 4 million stray dogs from urban areas. Dogs are captured, vaccinated, sterilized, and offered for adoption, but euthanasia is permitted for sick, aggressive, or unadoptable dogs.

Stray dogs are captured, quarantined, and put up for adoption in Japan. Low-cost spaying and neutering programs help control populations.

Since 2014, China has focused on mass rabies vaccination, compulsory registration, and “civilized dog-keeping” rules. Beijing achieved 80–86% vaccine antibody rates by 2023, with zero human rabies cases since 2021. Urban areas like Beijing have seen significant reductions in stray dogs and rabies, though rural areas may lag.

Switzerland: Abandoning pets is illegal, with penalties up to three years in prison. Dog owners must register pets with cantonal authorities, and some regions require a certification course for ownership.