Stray dogs up by 40k yearly as sterilisation efforts still lack bite
Sample this: the civic body currently operates three Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres, which collectively perform around 22,000 sterilisations each year. With 85 wards in total, the city ideally requires nine ABC centres to manage the stray dog population effectively.
The proposal to expand ABC centres in Bhopal was submitted to the Union govt in 2024, but the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) is still awaiting a response, according to a BMC official.
And according to general planning norms, one ABC centre is recommended for every ten urban wards. Bhopal has 85 wards, he added.
The estimated stray dog population stands at approximately 1.2 lakh, with around 60,000 dogs capable of breeding. BMC sterlisation in three ABC centres, pegs the total number of sterlisations per year at about 20,000.
Despite an estimated high mortality rates, only about 10% of puppies survive, yet the population still increases by an estimated 60,000 dogs each year.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Stylish New Mobility Scooters Available for Seniors (Prices May Surprise You)
Mobility Scooter | Search Ads
Search Now
Undo
Of these, roughly 30,000 are female dogs that may reproduce, each potentially giving birth to four to ten puppies annually.
Targeted sterilization drives aim to reduce this growth, but municipal estimates indicate a net annual increase of about 40,000 dogs.
Back in Dec 9, 2024, TOI reported that BMC had put forth the proposal for a Rs 15 crore plan to expand to 9 ABC centres in the city.
But in a questionable development within the proposal, BMC had characterized the Kerwa-Kaliasot region as the priority for canine sterilisation, mainly due to the conflicts between wild animals and dogs in the area.
This prioritisation could take away focus from the concern of dog attacks on infants and children in the city.
Stay updated with the latest local news from your
city
on
Times of India
(TOI). Check upcoming
bank holidays
,
public holidays
, and current
gold rates
and
silver prices
in your area.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
42 minutes ago
- News18
DU confirms over 67,500 UG admissions in round 3
New Delhi, Aug 13 (PTI) The Delhi University has confirmed 67,582 admissions in the third round of undergraduate seat allocation, the data shared on Wednesday revealed. The university said allocations for Extra-Curricular Activities (ECA), sports and Children/Wards of University employees (CW) categories will be made public on August 15. The total number of allocations in the latest round stood at 7,061, including those enrolled in performance-based programmes. DU opened its mid-entry admission window at 5 pm on August 8, allowing fresh candidates who missed previous rounds to apply for the 2025-26 academic session. The mid-entry provision under the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) will remain open till 4.59 pm on August 10. Candidates who did not register earlier or failed to complete the second phase of admission can apply by paying a fee of Rs 1,000. 'This is an opportunity for those students who were unable to participate in the CSAS earlier due to various reasons. Through mid-entry, they can now enter the admission process," a university official said. The varsity has a total of 71,624 UG seats for the current academic year across 79 undergraduate programmes being offered in 69 colleges. The new academic session began on August 1 in a bid to align with the University Grants Commission's calendar and ensure timely completion of semesters. PTI MHS VN VN view comments First Published: August 13, 2025, 19:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Why returning sterilised dogs to streets is key to ABC's success
While asking the authorities to shift Delhi's stray dogs to shelters, the Supreme Court found it 'unreasonable and absurd' that, under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) program, sterilised dogs are returned to the streets they were picked up from. The apex court's intervention resonated with many whose lives and livelihood have been affected by the proliferation of aggressive dog packs in public spaces. But returning sterilised dogs to streets is not the reason why the ABC program has not been able to stabilise the stray dog population. On the contrary, that is the very essence of ABC science. To bring down a population through sterilisation of individuals, the females are the principal targets. Because anything short of 100% success in neutering males potentially leaves open the window for all fertile females getting productive. Spaying females is also the preferred approach because neutering impacts males behaviorally — turning docile is not a good survival option in the wild. But when it comes to street dogs, reducing aggression in males helps reduce conflict. That is why ABC programs for dogs target both females and males. While all dogs cannot be sterilised at one go, the efficacy of any ABC drive depends on the outcome of the race between volume and time. The thumb rule: at least two-third (ideally 70%) of a population should be sterilised within a year. And this is where returning sterilised dogs to streets becomes all important. Securing 'unproductive' streets Consider a scenario when dogs from two out of ten streets of a neighbourhood are picked up for sterilisation and not returned. The garbage dumps on those two dog-empty streets will invariably invite unsterilised dogs from neighbouring streets. With uncontested resources at their disposal, they will multiply quickly to reoccupy those streets. The ABC program also seeks returning sterilised dogs to streets to maintain their social order and cohesion. But, primarily, returning sterilised dogs to streets ensures that potentially productive space remains under unproductive occupation. This is absolutely vital in the initial months of an ABC drive as it makes spatial progress incrementally. Crisis of Capacity The urgency of the apex court's order also caught the civic authorities off guard. In its order on Monday, the SC asked them to make shelters to house stray dogs, and pick up 5-6,000 from vulnerable areas in the next six to eight weeks. Since the Delhi government does not have any shelter of its own, the implementation of the court's order may take longer. While the government has hospitals, around two dozen dog shelters, with a combined capacity of less than 3,000, are all run by NGOs. Some are also concerned that housing thousands of unrelated dogs together may cause stress and anxiety. There are standard housing protocols in individual cages with physical and visual barriers to ease aggression. But dogs are inherently social animals — forming packs, establishing hierarchies and learning from one another — not suited for captivity. The fact that Delhi does not have anything close to the holding capacity required to meet the apex court's urgency also shines light on the gross inadequacy of the capital's ABC drive. As mentioned above, an ABC drive must cover 70% of the population within a year. For an estimated population of 8 lakh street dogs in Delhi, this would require neutering up to 5.5 lakhs. Considering 300 working days, this breaks down to a requirement of operating on 1,800 dogs per day. According to standardStray d government protocol, each dog has to be kept for 3 days post-operative care and will have to be brought to the ABC centre one day in advance. Therefore, to operate on 1,800 dogs daily, Delhi would have required four times kennel infrastructure to hold 7,200 dogs. With a daily holding capacity well under 3,000, Delhi's ABC drive was evidently running at 40% of the desired intensity. Unsurprisingly, it failed to make any difference. Home to street What overwhelmed a tepid ABC drive is the irresponsibility of a large number of dog owners. India does not have a national law that requires dog owners to register their pets. A few cities have made rules but do not bother with enforcement. It is not mandatory to get pets sterilised or vaccinated either. Since owners are not accountable for their dogs or their dogs' pups, hundreds of unwanted pet dogs and pups are abandoned on the street daily. Besides, thousands of pet dogs are allowed to roam or break free and breed with street strays. This is why the so-called 'Indian street dog' is mostly mongrels of various crossbreeds. The solution, experts say, is to have ABC drives target pedigreed pets with high breeding frequency. The government could offer incentives to owners to get their pets registered and sterilised. A steep tax may be levied on breeding pets. Recipe for conflict In all cities, neighbourhood good samaritans feed stray dogs on the streets outside their homes or workplaces. This has the same effect as petting, and turns stray dogs territorial and aggressive. Such feeding has also created monsters of monkeys in many parts of India. Over the decades, governments cutting across party lines have sponsored the feeding of stray dogs by various organisations. In The Ecology of Stray Dogs: A Study of Free-ranging Urban Animals (1973), Professor Alan Beck wrote: 'Loose or straying pets and stray (feral) dogs are different. True stray dogs form somewhat stable packs… are more active at night and cautious about people. In general, straying pets have smaller home ranges and [are] active when people are.' This is why abandoned or proxy pet dogs on the street are more likely to be aggressive towards people who do not feed or pet them.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 hours ago
- Business Standard
Hajj 2026 selection list out: Steps to view Qurrah draw result and more
The Hajj Committee of India held the draw of lots on August 13 to pick pilgrims for Hajj 2026, with results available online. Provisionally chosen pilgrims must pay Rs 1,52,300 by August 20, 2025 New Delhi Hajj 2026: To choose pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj, the Hajj Committee of India held the Qurrah or Qurandazi, or drawing of lots, today, on August 13. Candidates can now verify their selection status if they submitted their forms by the deadline of August 7. The overall number of applicants stood at 1,94,007, according to the committee report. The anticipated dates for Hajj 2026 are May 24–29 of the next year. On August 13, the Hajj Committee of India finished the Qurrah, or drawing of lots, for the 2026 Hajj, confirming the names of pilgrims who were waitlisted and provisionally chosen. The procedure was broadcast live on and took place at the Hajj Committee's Committee Room at Hajj House in Mumbai. Hajj 2026: Qurrah draw site The Hajj Committee of India conducted the Qurrah (draw of lots) at 11:30 am today in its Committee Room at the Hajj House, Mumbai. A notification issued earlier on Tuesday stated, 'The Qurrah will be conducted online and livestreamed on the official website of the Hajj Committee of India — Additionally, it stated that the same website will include the list of pilgrims who have been waitlisted and provisionally selected. Applicants will also receive notifications via SMS, according to the announcement. Using their cover number, pilgrims can view their current status and Qur'anic findings. Hajj 2026: Guidelines By August 20, all pilgrims who have been tentatively chosen must pay the Rs. 1,52,300 Advance Hajj fee. Their application will be cancelled if they do not make the payment. In addition to other tier-2 cities, Hajj 2026 will feature 18 embarkation locations nationwide, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru. No embarkation sites would be available in Bhopal, Vijayawada, or Aurangabad. Flight information, both inbound and outgoing, will be made public later. The Short Duration Hajj Package for working professionals has been approved by the Hajj Committee. More than 10,000 pilgrims are eligible to apply under this program. India has a total of 175,025 quotas under the government program. A 20-day stay in Saudi Arabia is included in the package. Qurrah will be used to confirm the final list if there are more than 10,000 applications.
