Moving lakhs of stray dogs to shelters that do not exist yet is a task that would require significant funding and time. Manpower shortage, dogs' territorial instincts and local resistance are among the other challenges for civic bodies struggling to carry out basic tasks such as keeping neighbourhoods clean and drains unclogged.

India’s top court has ordered authorities in New Delhi to start removing all stray dogs from its streets and to sterilize and relocate them to shelters permanently.