Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 17: The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) today presented its initiatives taken to address the long-standing issue of stray dogs that has been causing problems for the city’s residents.
In a press briefing held in this regard, the SMC officials presented the measures taken to sterilize the captured stray dogs from various areas of the city.
The SMC highlighted the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Programme as a solution to the stray dog problem and emphasized three main concerns: overpopulation, dog bites and aggression, and the risk of rabies.
During the media briefing, SMC Commissioner Athar Amir stated the corporation’s commitment to resolving the issue by adhering to the guidelines issued by the Government of India.
He assured the public that sterilization efforts would be conducted systematically across different wards, following established norms and rules.
In an official statement, the SMC emphasized that killing or relocating stray dogs is illegal under the Animal Birth Control Rule 2023, which falls under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The only lawful intervention, it noted, is the implementation of the Animal Birth Control and Anti-Rabies Vaccination Programme.
“The SMC has been implementing the Animal Birth Control & Anti-Rabies Vaccination Programme in all 35 Administrative Wards,” stated the SMC in the press release.
The Animal Birth Control and Anti-Rabies Vaccination Programme involve a series of steps, beginning with the capture of stray dogs by dedicated teams who then transfer them to designated Animal Birth Control Centers.
Following sterilization, the dogs receive post-operative care for their surgical wounds and are subsequently vaccinated against rabies. Once fully recovered, the dogs are released back into their original habitats.
The SMC highlighted several benefits of the ABC Programme, including the humane stabilization of the stray dog population, prevention of rabies transmission in both humans and animals, reduction in dog bite cases, and addressing issues of cruelty towards stray dogs.
The officials urged the cooperation of the general public in supporting the implementation of the Animal Birth Control and Vaccination Programme.
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