Menace of Stray Dogs
Menace of Stray Dogs
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:
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:
1
05.04.2022
Minimum revised Rates for conducting ABC
Secretary, AWBI
2
17.05.2022
Standard Protocol for Adoption of community animals
Chairman, AWBI
3
27.03.2023
Circulation of ABC Rules
Secretary, DAHD
4
31.03.2023
D.O. letter regarding Central Govt. has notified the ABC Rules, 2023
Joint Secretary, DAHD
5
30.05.2023
Implementation of ABC Rules 2023
Secretary, AWBI
The District Magistrate/District Collector of all Districts of all State Governments/UTs
6
01.10.2024
Advise to all recognised AWOs for Active Participation in the tenders floated for ABC
Secretary, AWBI
All the recognised Animal Welfare Organization(s)
7
11.11.2024
DAHD Advisory for Dog Population Management and reducing Dog-bites
Secretary, DAHD
The Chief Secretary of all the State Governments/UTs.
8
17.07.2025
Guidelines for RWAs, AOAs, Local bodies for effective implementation of ABC Rules
Chairman, AWBI
9
17.07.2025
Constitution of committees as per Rule 9(3) of ABC Rules 2023
Chairman, AWBI
The Chief Secretary of all the State Governments/ UTs.
10
04.08.2025
Advisory of separate Dog bite Data
Chairman, AWBI
The Director General of Health Services
11
04.08.2025
Advisory for Mandatory Project Recognition
Chairman, AWBI
The Chief Secretary of all the State Governments/ UTs.
12
11.08.2025
Revised Animal Birth Control (ABC) module for Street Dogs Population management, rabies eradication and reducing man-dog conflict launched on 11.08.2025
Chairman, AWBI
The Chief Secretary of all the State Governments/ UTs.
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.