Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Mar 27: Government today said that the total estimated number of stray dogs in major urban centres of Jammu and Kashmir stands at 1, 52,775, including 64,416 in Srinagar city, as per a 2023 survey.
Replying to a Question raised by MLA Tanvir Sadiq in the Assembly, the Government disclosed that 43,200 stray dogs have been sterilised across the Union Territory between June 2023 and September 2025.
Providing a district-level breakdown, the reply stated that sterilisation figures include 21,600 dogs in Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), 13,730 in Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and 7,870 in other Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), taking the total to 43,200.
On monitoring, the government said the programme is overseen through a multi-tier mechanism. This includes a UT Level Monitoring Committee (UTLMC) for periodic review of implementation of Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules and court directions, and ULB-level monitoring committees for ground supervision and compliance.
It further stated that an ABC Mobile Application is used for real-time tracking of dog catching, sterilisation, vaccination and release, alongside a regular reporting system involving monthly, quarterly and annual reports submitted to monitoring authorities and the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI).
The reply added that “CCTV surveillance, 24×7 monitoring of ABC centres with mandatory data retention, financial monitoring linked to verified digital records, and a grievance redressal mechanism for timely handling of complaints and violations” are also part of the monitoring framework.
However, the Government admitted that no formal independent third-party evaluation has been conducted to assess the effectiveness of the programme, stating that oversight is currently carried out by committees comprising officials and animal welfare organisations.
Addressing rising public safety concerns, particularly for children and the elderly, the government outlined a series of measures. These include expansion and strengthening of ABC centres, with plans to increase facilities from one to three in Jammu and add additional centres in Srinagar.
Other steps include continuous implementation of sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination programmes, establishment of designated feeding spots away from high-footfall areas, public awareness campaigns, identification of land for shelters, deployment of mobile sterilisation units, regular sanitation drives, and training of dog-catching staff.
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