Safer, more humane cities: UP scales up stray dog control, pet licensing
According to a government release, this year alone, the state has issued 5,333 licences for pet dogs, a move aimed at promoting responsible ownership and reducing conflicts between humans and animals in urban spaces. The licensing ensures pets are vaccinated and monitored, adding a crucial layer of safety for the general public.
According to data shared by the urban development department, in all 2,84,641 stray dogs have been sterilised and vaccinated under the ABC programme so far. This includes 1,25,893 sterilisations in 2023-24, as many as 1,19,197 sterilisations in 2024-25.
Seventeen permanent ABC centres are now operational across all 17 municipal corporations in the state, with two more centers sanctioned for Lucknow and Ghaziabad. These efforts are supported by a landmark government allocation of Rs3,273.65 lakh.
Principal Secretary of the Urban Development Department, Amrit Abhijat, said,'Through our ABC, anti-rabies vaccination, and pet licensing programmes, we are working closely with urban local bodies to address public health and safety while ensuring ethical treatment of animals.The department is also running awareness campaigns urging citizens to, avoid provoking stray dogs, supervise children near animals, seek immediate medical care in case of a bite, report aggressive or ill dogs to local authorities or the dedicated helpline 1533.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
GCC to vaccinate 1L dogs against rabies
Chennai: After a five-year pause in citywide vaccination, the GCC is set to launch a 50-day drive from Aug 7 to immunise one lakh stray and pet dogs, in an urgent attempt to address a critical gap in rabies prevention. The civic body aims to vaccinate an average of 3,000 dogs a day across the city. Until now, only sterilized stray dogs were routinely immunised through animal birth control (ABC) centres . With this special drive, GCC plans to widen coverage to include unsterilised stray and pet dogs to break the chain of rabies transmission. "To ensure Chennai is free from rabies, several measures have been taken, including sterilization and vaccination. A recent survey revealed that over 1.8 lakh stray dogs live in the city. So far, only sterilised dogs at ABC centres have been vaccinated. We aim to immunize the remaining stray dogs through this special mass vaccination camp starting Aug 7 (Thursday)," said J Kamal Hussain, veterinary officer, GCC. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai The corporation will begin the drive in three zones , eventually expanding to all other zones. Ten trained teams will carry out the vaccinations, with each team expected to vaccinate at least 100 dogs a day. Kamal added, "The rabies vaccination will also include protection against four other major diseases — canine distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus, and leptospirosis. Additionally, Endectoparasiticide will help prevent ticks and other parasite infections in dogs. We expect to vaccinate at least one lakh dogs through this special camp." Notably, the city records an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 dog bite cases annually. During a recent monthly council meeting, ward councillors urged Corporation officials to regularize the administration of anti-rabies vaccines for stray dogs, citing the surge in their population. "Sterilization alone is not enough and does not prevent dog bites. After surgery, dogs are released back into the same areas, posing a threat to the public. Many stray dogs remain unvaccinated. Authorities must ensure strict implementation of these measures," said Fathima Ahamed, councillor of ward 61. Animal lovers have welcomed the move to vaccinate dogs after a long gap. "If the vaccination camp had been conducted earlier, a wider range of dogs could have been covered. Vaccinating both stray and pet dogs will help reduce human-animal conflict," said Arun Prasanna, an animal activist. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Prayagraj plans largest animal birth control, anti-rabies drive
Sangam city is set to launch its largest-ever animal birth control (ABC) and anti-rabies vaccination (ARV) drive to tackle the growing menace of stray dogs in urban areas. Newly constructed Animal Birth Control Centre in Rasulabad area of Prayagraj . (HT PHOTO) From high-end colonies to densely populated localities, the stray dog issue has become a daily concern for residents. Municipal authorities admit a steady rise in dog bite cases and road accidents involving stray animals, heightening public concern—especially children and senior citizens. According to some estimates, more than 700 dog bite cases occur daily within the city limits of Prayagraj alone. New infrastructure to support ABC-ARV efforts In a proactive move, the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation (PMC) has set up an Animal Birth Control Centre in Rasulabad. A second facility in the same area has recently been completed and is scheduled to begin sterilization and vaccination operations starting August, said officials. Constructed by the Construction and Design Services (C&DS) wing of Jal Nigam at a cost of ₹1.85 crore, the new center includes modern amenities such as an operation theatre, pet salon, kennels, community kitchen, park, pet shop, office, preparation room, dormitory, and pantry. 'The center is capable of sterilising up to 32 animals per day,' said Rohit Kumar Rana, project manager, C&DS. Targeting 75% of stray dog population As part of its broader strategy, PMC is initiating a citywide ABC-ARV campaign, aiming to cover 75% of the estimated 1.13 lakh stray dogs in the next six years. The municipal corporation has already started the tendering process through a Request for Proposal (RFP) to bring onboard a qualified agency or NGO to implement the project. 'This initiative is critical to ensure the safety and well-being of city residents,' said Dr Vijay Amritraj, veterinary and animal welfare officer, PMC. 'We plan to sterilise and vaccinate the stray dog population in a phased and systematic manner.' Annual goals and standards To meet the programme's objectives, around 18,000 surgeries will need to be performed annually within PMC limits, including providing adequate post-operative care. All procedures will follow standards prescribed by the Animal Welfare Board of India. As of now, 4,540 dogs have been sterilised and vaccinated in Prayagraj, according to municipal data. Role of implementing agency The selected agency or NGO will be required to deploy: At least two qualified veterinary doctors (each with experience in 500+ ABC-ARV surgeries), four paravets, four dog catchers and drivers for designated dog vans. While PMC will provide the dog vans, the operating agency will bear all operational, maintenance, fuel, repair, and wage costs. All dog bite cases must be reported to the nearest government hospital. The implementing agency must also maintain a mortality rate below 0.5%, with evaluations conducted after every 500 surgeries, said officials.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Dengue larvae detected in 23 schools, 61 houses
Dengue larvae have been found in 23 schools and 61 houses during a large-scale inspection drive conducted by the health department across Ludhiana district, officials said. The week-long campaign, led by 521 health teams, covered 851 schools and 29,747 houses. In total, 51,445 water-holding containers were inspected, of which 147 were found having dengue mosquito larvae. The drive is part of the health department's ongoing campaign titled 'Har Shukravaar – Dengue Te Vaar' (Every Friday – fight dengue). (HT Photo) The teams focused on high-risk areas such as school campuses, rooftops, overhead water tanks, air coolers, flower pots and vacant plots—common breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Dr Vivek Kataria, assistant civil surgeon, said, 'Finding mosquito larvae in educational institutions and homes is a serious concern. This underlines the urgent need for greater public awareness and participation. Dengue cannot be prevented by government initiatives alone. It requires consistent community action.' Immediate larvicide spraying was carried out in all locations where larvae were found, and strict cleanliness advisories were issued to the institutions and residents concerned. The drive is part of the health department's ongoing campaign titled 'Har Shukravaar – Dengue Te Vaar' (Every Friday – fight dengue), which urges citizens, schools, and offices to dedicate every Friday to cleaning their premises and eliminating stagnant water sources. District epidemiologist Dr Sheetal Narang said, 'The dengue mosquito breeds in clean, stagnant water and bites during the daytime. Cleaning all water sources at least once a week is essential. During this campaign, teams not only conducted inspections but also provided door-to-door awareness about prevention practices. Awareness remains the most powerful tool.'
