New Delhi, July 28 (PTI) Foundation stone for a dog shelter with capacity of around 1,500 aggressive stray dogs was laid in Delhi’s Dwarka on Tuesday, with the facility expected to be completed by November this year, officials said.
Spread over around 6,050 square metres in Dwarka Sector 29, the shelter will be developed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) with corporate social responsibility (CSR) funding from the GMR Varalakshmi Foundation, a private multinational conglomerate.
Officials said construction work will begin shortly.
Lt Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu laid the foundation stone along with Mayor Pravesh Wahi, South Delhi MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, MLA Kailash Gahlot and senior MCD officials.
Calling the project an example of a “successful public-private partnership”, Sandhu said the CSR support would enable the facility to be built without any financial burden on the civic body.
“This is backed by GMR and MCD won’t have to spend a single penny,” he said, adding that such collaborations allow corporate resources to be channelled towards public welfare while easing the financial burden on civic agencies.
The L-G said the shelter should function as a centre for the humane care and rehabilitation of stray dogs. He directed MCD to involve resident welfare associations (RWAs), animal welfare organisations, NGOs, veterinarians, dog lovers and subject experts in preparing operational strategy so that the facility runs in a “scientific, sustainable and compassionate manner”.
He also inspected Delhi’s only cremation facility for small animals located within the complex and reviewed its functioning.
A senior MCD official said the proposed shelter will come up on a 2.5 to 3-acre plot within an existing complex that already houses two Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres and a pet crematorium.
At present, kennels at the Dwarka Sector 29 sterilisation centre can accommodate around 300 dogs. Under the new plan, about 20 per cent of the shelter area will consist of enclosed kennels, while the remaining 80 per cent will be developed as open space to provide a more natural environment for the animals.
Aggressive dogs picked up from different parts of the city will first be brought to the shelter and examined for rabies, officials said.
“A rabid dog typically dies within 10 days. Other dogs will be vaccinated and kept in kennels for 15 to 20 days before being shifted to open areas,” the official said.
The official said the MCD is also planning similar facilities elsewhere in the city. A five-acre plot owned by the civic body at Mukundpur is under consideration for an integrated Animal Birth Control centre, dog shelter and crematorium, while land has also been identified at Bela Road for another shelter. Additional sites are being explored at government veterinary hospitals and dispensaries.
The shelters are being planned to accommodate stray dogs picked up from hospitals, educational institutions, transport hubs, parks, airports and other public places in line with Supreme Court directions on stray dog management. PTI MSJ ARB
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