10 Reasons Why Community Dogs Matter: Here’s Why Removing Them Could Hurt Delhi More Than Help

New Delhi: In the wake of the Supreme Court’s recent order to remove stray dogs from Delhi-NCR streets, which has now been reserved pending further hearings, and its criticism of local authorities for failing to implement sterilisation and population control measures, the value of community dogs deserves fresh consideration.

Here are ten reasons why "stray" dogs keep Delhi safer than you think:

1. Street-Level Security: Indie dogs instinctively guard their territories. Residents across Delhi report that barking dogs alert them to intruders at night, an organic security system that CCTV cameras cannot replace. Their removal could leave colonies exposed.

2. First Responders to Disturbance: Because they live among people, community dogs are quick to react to unusual noises, fires, or scuffles. Their alarm often rallies neighbours faster than official channels.

3. Natural Rodent Control: Delhi struggles with rodent infestations that spread leptospirosis and contaminate food stocks. Dogs suppress rodent numbers by both hunting and deterring them from garbage dumps, reducing the spread of disease.

4. Check on Monkeys and Other Wildlife: In colonies near the Ridge and Central Delhi, dogs are known to chase off rhesus macaques, preventing crop raids, rooftop intrusions, and sometimes aggressive encounters. Removing them could worsen the capital’s monkey problem.

5. Familiarity Reduces Bite Risk: Most dog bites in Delhi involve unvaccinated newcomers. Studies show that when dogs remain in their territories, residents learn their behaviour and dogs recognise familiar humans, lowering aggression. Displacement increases unpredictability.

6. Guardians of Public Spaces: Community dogs deter miscreants in parks, parking lots, and marketplaces by their constant presence. Hawkers, shopkeepers and night-shift workers often describe them as “companions” that discourage loiterers.

7. Emotional Bonds Build Community Safety: Feeding and caring for local dogs creates networks of residents who become more vigilant about their surroundings. This watchfulness, rooted in empathy, adds an extra layer of social safety.

8. Disease Sentinels: Veterinary experts note that community dogs act as early warning systems for outbreaks. A rise in canine illness or deaths can flag environmental hazards or rabies clusters faster than official monitoring.

9. Cleaner Streets, Indirectly: Scavenging dogs consume food waste left in open areas. While imperfect, this behaviour does reduce the quantum of exposed garbage, discouraging pests and minimising health hazards until municipal collection arrives.

10. A Balance in the Urban Ecosystem: Delhi’s ecosystem has adapted around its dogs. Remove them, and other animals, rats, pigs, monkeys, quickly fill the void, often creating bigger risks. Maintaining community dogs ensures a functional balance.