NOIDA, India — Sujata Bisht is proud to be called the “grandma” of over 40 dogs in this city, which sits just southeast of New Delhi .

Now and then, she rounds up her team — fellow “mothers” and “fathers” who each look after about five dogs on their respective streets — to vaccinate every one of them against rabies.

“They’re like children for me,” Bisht, 55, said.

In and around India’s capital, stray dogs are as ubiquitous as humans .

They are known as “indies,” or Indian native dogs, a mixed breed recognized for being resilient and intelligent. However, managing their high numbers has become a test of governance and compassion in increasingly dense megacities such as Delhi, which has a population of over 33 million.

In August, India’s Supreme Court ordered that all stray dogs i

See Full Page