Menace of Stray Dogs

Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Menace of Stray Dogs Posted On: 19 AUG 2025 3:28PM by PIB Delhi The issue of stray dogs falls under the purview of State Governments, with Local Bodies mandated to manage related matters. To ensure humane and effective dog population management, the Central Government has framed the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. These Rules align with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) standards for the Capture–Neuter–Vaccinate–Release (CNVR) approach. Under the Rules, Local Bodies are responsible for implementing sterilization and vaccination programmes in collaboration with animal welfare organizations. The sterilization programme is an ongoing process being implemented by Urban Local Bodies. An advisory was issued by the Secretary (Animal Husbandry and Dairying) to all Chief Secretaries on 11.11.2024. Subsequently, on 16.07.2025, the Secretaries of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and Ministry of Panchayati Raj jointly issued an advisory reiterating that sterilisation of stray dogs is central to dog population management. The advisory urged Urban Local Bodies to establish Animal Birth Control units and undertake large-scale sterilisation programmes, covering at least 70% of stray dogs. Further, the Central Government has revised the existing Scheme for Birth Control and Immunization of stray dogs and stray cats, which is being implemented through the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) from the current financial year. The details are available in the website of AWBI at https://awbi.gov.in/Document/guidelines. Under the revised scheme: Financial assistance of up to ₹800 per dog and ₹600 per cat is provisioned for SPCAs and Local (cid:108) Bodies to conduct ABC programmes as per the ABC Rules, 2023. Infrastructure support: A one-time grant of ₹2 crore is provisioned for State-run veterinary (cid:108) hospitals to develop facilities such as surgical theatres, kennels, and recovery units. The AWBI is providing assistance for establishment of small animal shelter up to ₹15 lakh and ₹27 (cid:108) lakh for large animal to Urban Local Bodies, Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animal and recognized Animal Welfare Organizations. Further, for proper implementation of the Rules, the AWBI has issued several advisories and circulars which is placed at Annexure-I In addition, under the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP), the subcomponent Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD) provides States with support for the procurement of anti-rabies vaccines. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), under the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP), is implementing the National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination (NAPRE), launched on 28.09.2021, with multiple initiatives aimed at achieving rabies elimination. Annexure-I List of Advisories issued in regard to implementation of Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 S. No. Date Topic Issued from Addressed to: Minimum revised Rates S e c r e t a r y , (cid:108) The Chief Secretary of all States/UTs 1 05.04.2022 for conducting ABC AWBI The State Animal Welfare Board of all (cid:108)States/UTs The District Magistrate of all States/UTs (cid:108) The Municipal Commissioner of all (cid:108) States/UTs The Chief Secretary of all States/UTs (cid:108) The Director General of Police of all (cid:108) States/UTs Standard Protocol for C h a i r m a n , (cid:108) The State Animal Welfare Board of all 2 17.05.2022 Adoption of community AWBI States/UTs animals The District Magistrate of all States/UTs (cid:108) The Municipal Commissioner of all (cid:108) States/UTs Circulation of ABC S e c r e t a r y , 3 27.03.2023 The Chief Secretary of all States/UTs (cid:108) Rules DAHD The Principal Secretary, DAH of all (cid:108) State Govt. / UTs D.O. letter regarding The Principal Secretary, Department of (cid:108) Central Govt. has Joint Secretary, 4 31.03.2023 Urban Development of all State notified the ABC Rules, DAHD Governments/ UTs 2023 The Municipal Commissioner of all (cid:108) Districts of all State Governments/UTs Implementation of ABC S e c r e t a r y , The District Magistrate/District Collector of 5 30.05.2023 Rules 2023 AWBI all Districts of all State Governments/UTs Advise to all recognised AWOs for Active S e c r e t a r y , All the recognised Animal Welfare 6 01.10.2024 Participation in the AWBI Organization(s) tenders floated for ABC DAHD Advisory for The Chief Secretary of all the State Dog Population S e c r e t a r y , 7 11.11.2024 Governments/UTs. Management and DAHD reducing Dog-bites Guidelines for RWAs, (cid:108) The Chief Secretary of all the State AOAs, Local bodies for C h a i r m a n , Governments/UTs. 8 17.07.2025 effective implementation AWBI All the Resident Welfare Associations (cid:108) of ABC Rules and Apartment owner Association Constitution of The Chief Secretary of all the State C h a i r m a n , 9 17.07.2025 committees as per Rule Governments/ UTs. AWBI 9(3) of ABC Rules 2023 Advisory of separate C h a i r m a n , 10 04.08.2025 The Director General of Health Services Dog bite Data AWBI The Chief Secretary of all the State 04.08.2025 Advisory for Mandatory C h a i r m a n , 11 Governments/ UTs. Project Recognition AWBI Revised Animal Birth Control (ABC) module The Chief Secretary of all the State C h a i r m a n , 12 11.08.2025 for Street Dogs Governments/ UTs. AWBI Population management, rabies eradication andreducing man-dog conflict launched on 11.08.2025 This information was given by Union Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, in a written reply in Lok Sabha on 19th August, 2025. ***** AA (Release ID: 2157898)