Framework for street dog management

The Supreme Court's order to round up all stray dogs from the Delhi-National Capital Region within eight weeks and house them in dedicated dog shelters to be set up by civic authorities in the national capital also puts the spotlight on the problem of street dog population management and preventing incidents of stray dog bites in other states. With a rise in cases of human rabies and death in Assam due to dog bite incidents, the street dog population management and care in the state deserves a clear roadmap. Overcoming logistics and financial hurdles will be crucial for implementing the SC order in a compassionate manner without any cruelty to stray dogs on the streets. The amended Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules 2023, notified under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, by the Central Government, mandate municipalities to release stray dogs on the streets after neutering and immunisation with anti-rabies vaccines for stabilisation of the street dog population. The Secretaries of two central ministries - Housing and Urban Affairs and Panchayati Raj - and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying issued a joint advisory to all Chief Secretaries, urging the implementation of the ABC programme and the development of requisite infrastructure. While execution of the SC directive will mark a departure from the current legal provision of the ABC rules to a new provision of capturing street dogs and confining them to dog shelters after neutering and immunisation only in respect of Delhi-NCR, it serves as a reminder for the states to develop the infrastructure for providing shelter and care to the street dog population apart from continuing neutering and anti-rabies vaccination. Upward revision of current financial assistance under ABC programmes has also assured availability of more money for local bodies for conducting the programme. Provision of a one-time grant of Rs. 2 crore for state-run veterinary hospitals for developing infrastructure, including surgical theatres, kennels, and recovery units. The strategies of the National Rabies Control Programme include conducting training on appropriate animal bite management, prevention and control of rabies, surveillance and intersectoral coordination, strengthening surveillance of animal bites, provision of procurement of anti-rabies vaccine for animal bite victims through the National Free Drug Initiative and creating awareness. The Joint Advisory to the States highlighted that sterilisation of stray dogs remains central to dog population management. However, feeding the released stray dogs after sterilisation and vaccination remains unaddressed and is left to animal lovers and residents of the locality with a street dog population. Without ensuring food and proper shelter, street dog population management only through sterilisation cannot be sustainable, as it leaves room for conflict between animal lovers and people bitten by stray dogs in some localities where people who are concerned about food and shelter for street dogs are fewer in number. A dedicated dog shelter provides a viable solution but requires adequate funds to run it smoothly. Lack of adequate funds limits the capacity of NGOs and individuals to accommodate too many stray dogs. Municipalities, NGOs and individual animal lovers together can facilitate dedicated dog shelters to accommodate all the stray dogs in Guwahati city, and various towns, Panchayats and Autonomous Councils too can adopt a similar model to protect humans from the stray dog menace and provide street dogs a safer accommodation with assured food and care. Finding adequate space for running a dog shelter is easier said than done, but there are animal lovers who would be willing to lend a helping hand if they notice sincere and collaborative efforts being made. Abandonment of pet dogs by irresponsible owners on streets, which leads to interbreeding with non-sterilised stray dogs, is another contributing factor behind rising street dog population but is often overlooked while preparing the strategy and approach towards street dog population management. Apart from strict enforcement of regulations for the pet dog industry, registration of dogs and other pets with municipalities and other local bodies by pet owners needs to be made mandatory to keep track of the population of owned dogs and undertake surveys whenever the city civic bodies come across incidents of abandonment of dogs on the streets by owners. The SC directive brought out a fundamental flaw in the strategy of ABC programme implementation - releasing the stray dog again to the streets or locality where they were found after their sterilisation without any provision for their food and shelter. The vulnerability of humans from stray dogs, if left unaddressed, will only make the street dogs more vulnerable to animal cruelty and deprivation from food, safe shelter and care. This larger message from the SC directive must not be missed while drawing the roadmap for street dog population management. It is important to ensure that the establishment of dedicated dog shelters is not reduced to a mere administrative exercise but collaborative efforts for care and safety with animal lovers as important stakeholders.