Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday chaired a meeting on the issue of stray animals in the city and directed officials to include suggestions of animal lovers and experts while framing policies on the issue.

Cabinet Ministers Ashish Sood and Kapil Mishra, along with senior officers of the departments concerned, were also present at the meeting.

“The Chief Minister directed that the issue should be viewed not only as an administrative issue but also as a social responsibility, and it should be solved with utmost seriousness and a holistic approach,” read a statement from the CM’s Office.

A follow-up meeting will be held on Thursday with the departments concerned, an official said.

The meeting comes two days after the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of a media report about dog attacks leading to rabies in the Capital.

Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) said on Wednesday that it has intensified efforts to sterilise stray dogs in order to check their growing count.

“To speed up the drive, a sub-committee, constituted by Standing Committee chairperson Satya Sharma, has decided to engage a few NGOs and bring more capable organisations on board,” said an official.

The official added, “The panel will seek support from the Delhi and Central governments to remove procedural hurdles in the sterilisation programme.”

Ms. Sharma said the civic body is committed to addressing the issue and ensuring citizens’ safety.

“The increasing number of stray dogs has become not just a civic concern but a serious public health and safety challenge,” said the Standing Committee chairperson. She added that efforts are being made to coordinate with all the stakeholders to find a permanent solution.

Dog attack in Gurugram

A video of a Gurugram woman being attacked by a pet dog, which mauled her hand even as passersby struggled to pull the animal off her, went viral on social media on Wednesday, sparking a demand for stricter legal action against pet owners who fail to control their dogs. The incident occurred on Sunday on Golf Course Road in Gurugram.

(With inputs from PTI)