Executive Summary:
This document outlines the Indian government's strategies for managing stray dogs, addressing public safety concerns, and preventing rabies. It details the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Programme, responsibilities of municipalities and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), and the role of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). The document also provides data on dog bite incidents and funding for rabies vaccination programs.
Key Points / Main Content:
Stray Dog Population Control:
* Municipalities are responsible for controlling stray dog populations via the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Programme.
* The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, supersede the 2001 rules, focusing on neutering and anti-rabies vaccination.
* The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) advises states/UTs to implement the ABC Programme.
* AWBI provides advisories and guidelines on stray dog management, rabies eradication, and reducing human-dog conflict.
Animal Welfare Committees and Feeding of Community Animals:
* Rule 20 of the ABC Rules, 2023, assigns responsibility to RWAs, Apartment Owners Associations (AOAs), or Local Bodies for the formation of Animal Welfare Committees and for addressing the feeding of community animals.
* AWBI addresses complaints related to the feeding of community animals by contacting the concerned RWAs, AOAs, or Local Bodies.
Data Collection and Census:
* The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying conducts a livestock census every five years, including stray dogs.
* Municipalities may conduct annual censuses of stray dogs as per ABC Rules, 2023.
* The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) collects data on dog bite cases and suspected human rabies deaths from States/UTs under the National Rabies Control Program.
Rabies Control:
* The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare manages the human health aspects of dog bites and rabies through the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP).
* The NRCP includes initiatives like the National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination, budgetary support to States/UTs, and ensuring the availability of Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV) and Anti-Rabies Serum (ARS).
Financial Support for Vaccination:
* The Department provides financial support under the Assistance to State for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD) for procurement of anti-rabies vaccines.
Impact Analysis:
Municipalities:
* Impact: Mandated to implement the Animal Birth Control Programme and potentially conduct annual stray dog censuses.
* Action Required: Implement ABC Rules, 2023, conduct stray dog censuses, and participate in rabies control efforts.
Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs)/Apartment Owners Associations (AOAs):
* Impact: Responsible for forming Animal Welfare Committees and addressing community animal feeding, subject to AWBI oversight.
* Action Required: Form Animal Welfare Committees, address community animal feeding, and respond to AWBI communications.
States/Union Territories:
* Impact: Expected to implement the ABC Programme and participate in the National Rabies Control Programme.
* Action Required: Implement the ABC Programme, participate in the NRCP, and utilize available financial support for rabies vaccination.
Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI):
* Impact: Oversees the implementation of ABC Rules, provides guidance, and addresses complaints related to animal welfare.
* Action Required: Continue issuing advisories and guidelines, address complaints, and support the implementation of ABC Rules.
Key Entities Referenced
Animal Birth Control ABC Rules, 2023: Rules notified by the Central Government to regulate the population of stray dogs through neutering and anti-rabies vaccination.
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960: The act under which the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 were notified.
Animal Welfare Board of India AWBI: An organization that has issued advisories and guidelines to address issues related to stray dogs.
National Rabies Control Programme NRCP: A program handled by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, to address the human health aspect related to dog bites and rabies.
Delhi High Court: A High Court that issued a judgment in 2021 related to animal welfare committees in Residential Welfare Associations or Municipal Corporations.
National Centre for Disease Control NCDC: An organization that collects data on reported dog bite cases and suspected human rabies deaths from States/UTs under the National Rabies Control Program.
Assistance to State for Control of Animal Diseases ASCAD: A component of the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme that provides financial support for procurement of antirabies vaccines for animals, including stray dogs.
StatesUTs: Refers to States and Union Territories of India, which receive budgetary support under the National Rabies Control Program NRCP.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 286
TO BE ANSWERED ON 22ND JULY, 2025
STRAY DOGS
286 DR. BACHHAV SHOBHA DINESH:
Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
मत्स्यपालन, पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the steps taken by the Government to eliminate the problem of stray dogs which
pose a threat to passers-by;
(b) the details of steps taken by the Government to ensure that every Residential Welfare
Association (RWA) or Municipal Corporation has an animal welfare committee according to
a Delhi High Court judgment in 2021;
(c) whether the Government proposes to penalize the RWA for not complying with the High Court
guidelines and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has any proposal to conduct census or order Municipalities to conduct
of stray dogs, if so, the details thereof;
(e) the number of incidents of stray dog bite reported and persons injured and died in the country
during last one year;
(f) whether the Government has allocated any funds for the vaccination of stray dogs; and
(g) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(SHRI S. P. SINGH BAGHEL)
(a) As per Articles 243(W), municipalities are mandated to control the stray dog population.
Accordingly, municipalities are implementing the Animal Birth Control Programme to regulate
the population of stray dogs. To support effective dog population management, the Central
Government notified the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, vide G.S.R. 193(E) dated 10th
March 2023, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, superseding the earlier ABC
(Dog) Rules, 2001. These rules focus on the neutering and anti-rabies vaccination of stray dogs as
means of population stabilization.
Further, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Government of
India, issued an advisory on 11.11.2024 to Chief Secretaries/Administrators of States/UTs, urgingthe implementation of the ABC Programme and related activities through local bodies. This was
aimed at ensuring the safety and security of children, especially toddlers, from stray dog attacks.
Additionally, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has issued several advisories and
guidelines to address issues related to stray dogs, including:
• Revised Animal Birth Control Module for Street Dog Population Management, Rabies
Eradication, and Reducing Man-Dog Conflict;
• Circular on Pet Dogs and Street Dogs dated 26.02.2015;
• Advisories for rescue and rehabilitation of stray animals dated 12.07.2018 and 27.02.2020;
• Advisory for implementation of the ABC Programme dated 17.12.2021;
• Request to implement and circulate the standard protocol for community animal adoption
dated 17.05.2022;
• Guidelines on use of muzzles and care for community dogs dated 17.08.2022; and
• Letter dated 01.10.2024 urging recognized animal welfare organizations to participate in
tenders floated by Municipal Corporations/Local Bodies for implementing ABC Rules,
2023.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, handles the human health
aspect related to dog bites and rabies. Under the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP), the
following initiatives have been undertaken:
• Launch of the National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination;
• Budgetary support to States/UTs under National Rabies Control Program(NRCP);
• Ensuring availability of Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV) and Anti-Rabies Serum (ARS) at
health facilities;
• Conducting workshops to formulate State Action Plans for rabies elimination;
• Establishment of Model Anti-Rabies Clinics across the states;
• Strengthening rabies diagnostic laboratories;
• Issuance of advisories and communication to States;
• Launch of the "Rabies-Free City" initiative;
• Constitution of National and State-level Committees under NRCP;
• Development of guidelines and resource documents;
• Conduct of training programmes;
• Community awareness campaigns on dog bites and rabies;
• Observance of World Rabies Day;
• Launch of a dedicated NRCP website;
• Establishment of a rabies helpline; and
• Strengthening of rabies surveillance mechanisms.
(b) The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, notified in supersession of the 2001 Rules,
incorporate the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and the Hon’ble Delhi High
Court. Rule 20 of the ABC Rules, 2023 addresses the feeding of community animals, assigning
responsibility to the Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), Apartment Owners’ Associations
(AOAs), or Local Bodies, including the formation of Animal Welfare Committees.On receiving complaints related to feeding of community animals, AWBI writes to the concerned
RWAs, AOAs, or Local Bodies for appropriate action. During 2024–25 and up to June 2025, the
Board has issued 166 such letters.
(c) There is no provision to penalize RWAs for non-compliance with High Court guidelines.
(d) The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying conducts a livestock census every five
years which also includes enumeration of stray dogs. However, municipalities may carry out their
own census annually to determine local numbers as per ABC Rules, 2023
(e) The data on total number of reported dog bite cases and suspected human rabies deaths, is
collected from States/UTs under the National Rabies Control Program by the National Centre for
Disease Control (NCDC). The NCDC has provided the information for 2024, in the table below:
Year 2024
Total Dog Bite Cases 3717336
Total suspected Human Rabies Deaths 54
(f) and (g) The Department provides financial support under the Assistance to State for Control
of Animal Diseases (ASCAD) component of the Livestock Health and Disease Control
Programme for procurement of anti-rabies vaccines for animals, including stray dogs. The details
of funds approved to States/UTs over the past five years are as follows:
Details of fund approved for procurement of Anti-Rabies vaccine under ASCAD
during last five Years
(Rs.in lakh)
Years No. of Doses Total Amt. Central Share approved
(in Lakhs) approved (CS+SS)
FY 2020-21 25.56 275.28 213.35
FY 2021-22 41.76 281.60 244.46
FY 2022-23 18.44 475.00 338.19
FY 2023-24 64.55 1080.57 716.85
FY 2024-25 80.19 1423.41 956.92
Total 230.5 3535.86 2469.77
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