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New Indian Express
a day ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
AWBI funds pending for 15 years, ABC programme may slow down in Tiruchy
TIRUCHY: The Tiruchy city municipal corporation is facing a huge challenge to fund the Animal Birth Control (ABC) and Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV) programmes as the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has not reimbursed its share for the last 15 years. According to sources in the Tiruchy corporation, a sum of Rs 4.57 crore to sterilise and vaccinate 34,921 dogs in the last 15 years, but the AWBI has not released its 50% share (Rs 2.28 crore) it is obligated to provide till date despite several representations. With its finances stretched, the corporation is left with no option than to approach the animal husbandry department to bail it out or slow down the programme. The corporation currently spends Rs 1,750 per dog for these procedures. As per AWBI guidelines, 50% of this cost is to be reimbursed. As per a survey conducted by the NGO World Veterinary Society at the behest of the civic body between October 2024 and January 2025, there are approximately 44,000 stray and community dogs in the city. Of these, 24,577 have been sterilised and vaccinated so far. Corporation sources said if AWBI delays releasing funds any further, the Tamil Nadu animal husbandry department has to support the programme. "But even animal husbandry department has not been supportive. There has been no response from them, " an official said.
Time of India
24-07-2025
- Time of India
Delay in probe into allegation of cop killing dogs in Kanker, AWBI demands action
Raipur: Almost two weeks after a probe was ordered into allegations of a police inspector "killing 10 stray dogs and getting the carcasses packed in gunnysacks" in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) on Thursday urged Chhattisgarh police to take immediate action the police officer. PETA-India has also requested Kanker SP Indira Kalyan Elesela to register a suo moto FIR, calling for an independent departmental inquiry and his dismissal if found guilty. After a video of Pawan Thakur, inspector at Orchha police station, packing the carcasses in gunny sacks surfaced and went viral on July 10, the SP took suo moto cognizance of the video and constituted a three-member probe team headed by a DSP rank officer on July 12. While Elesela said the inspector could be seen in the video, no formal complaint was launched. The AWBI demand came after the probe team did not submit its report within the stipulated period of one week. Elesela said that the inspector under scrutiny is posted in Narayanpur district and involved in anti-Naxal operations, which has delayed the process. "An inquiry is already in place and till now, there is no evidence that indicates the inspector killed the dogs. The inspector was seen transporting the gunny sacks in the video. We will speed up the probe," Elesela told TOI. AWBI, a statutory body, has asked the SP and member-secretary of the Chhattisgarh State Animal Welfare Board, who is also the director of the stage livestock development department, to take immediate action against Thakur. It is alleged that Thakur, who was visiting his family in Kanker police line, had allegedly used an air gun to shoot about 10 stray dogs in the area and then got the carcasses packed in gunny sacks by his associates for disposal. A resident of the area had made a video of the carcasses being packed. "During the probe, we found that two carcasses of dogs were disposed, which was also seen in the video recorded. But it's not clear if they were killed by the inspector. We have asked for more footage from the resident who recorded it," the SP said. AWBI, however, has called for a thorough enquiry and stringent action under applicable laws, including Section 11(1)(l) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, and Section 325 of the BNS, which entails imprisonment of up to five years, or fine, or both, for maiming or killing any animal.
New Indian Express
21-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
"Even if dogs don't bite, animal lovers will if BBMP fails to implement its feeding initiative"
What will stray dogs be fed? Chicken and rice. Dogs are primarily carnivores. Chicken parts (except the intestine), like the legs, head, neck, chicken skin, liver, gizzard, will be cooked with rice and turmeric, and fed. Compared to other meat options, chicken is the cheapest, which makes it the most feasible. Given the track record of local bodies like BBMP, do you think the animals will get chicken, or will the project be mismanaged? BBMP, during the two pandemic lockdowns, undertook feeding of stray animals successfully. I had the money released. We ensured hygiene of the cooked food, and BBMP distributed it. So this is not the first time BBMP is taking up feeding of strays. This is, however, the first time in India that a municipal organisation has undertaken an initiative for strays under a constitutional obligation (compassion). Animal activists will keep watch, ensuring strays are fed without any compromise in content and quality. There is a safety concern about the rising number of stray dogs, and difficulty for pedestrians and two-wheeler riders. How do we control that? India is a member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) which clearly deems the killing of dogs an effective solution to control stray population. Earlier, BBMP would euthanise dogs and dump the bodies in Devanahalli. This was extremely inhumane. ABC Rules, 2023, ensure the agenda remains animal birth control, not animal elimination. It is implemented well in Bengaluru, but is a big zero in other states. What is the stray dog population in Bengaluru now? What was it like a decade ago? As per the census, the stray dog population in Bengaluru is within 3lakh now, and was around 2.4lakh a decade ago. Growth has been healthy due to activists. Bengaluru has a very scientific monitoring system. What about aggressive species like Pitbulls and Rottweilers? Should there be any regulation? The Animal Welfare Board of India came out with a list of aggressive species in 2024. It was contested by the Karnataka High Court, and withdrawn in Karnataka. No animals are inherently aggressive. It depends on how we treat them. This brings us to the Wildlife Protection Act (Amendment) 2023, particularly Chapter 5B, which incorporates the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the global agreement on endangered species trade. While native species like the Bengal Tiger can't be kept as pets in India, under CITES, one can legally import exotic species with permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden, but only for personal pet use. Behavioural issues in pets are influenced by treatment. Mistreatment — like constant confinement or abuse — leads to aggression. The Karnataka HC quashed the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) circular declaring certain breeds as aggressive in the Solomon vs AWBI case, as it lacked factual basis. Instead of targeting behaviour, AWBI should focus on habitat compatibility. For example, exotic species like penguins were once kept in cities like Chennai and Mumbai, despite being suited for sub-zero climates. This is a clear case of cruelty. Similarly, Huskies, native to colder regions, are being kept in hot Indian cities, which can harm their health.
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Greater Chennai Corporation plans to launch app for licensing and microchipping pet dogs in two months
The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) will launch an app for licensing and microchipping pet dogs in the households of the city in two months. The civic body will make licensing and microchipping mandatory for pet dogs. However, microchipping of cats will not be mandatory. GCC councillors will decide the penalty for residents who fail to get licences and microchips for the dogs this month. The GCC has opened technical bids for the development of the app. The civic body has estimated that there are 1 lakh pet dogs in the households of the city. Over 11,000 pet dogs and a few cats have been licensed in the city under the online system for licensing. Labrador retrievers have been the dominant breed among the dogs registered in the city. Other breeds registered by residents include German shepherd, golden retriever, and Shih Tzu. Once the app is launched, the GCC will monitor the dogs' vaccination status and improve rabies surveillance. The app and pet animal management system will be eventually expanded to all parts of the State. The number of pets per household will be restricted in the city. A pet ownership policy will be prepared for Tamil Nadu following the guidelines of the Animal Welfare Board of India. Currently, the GCC collects information about the breed, sex, and age of dogs during online registration. After the app is launched, information such as health status, body weight, annual revaccination, and deworming every three months will be collected. It will monitor the information about deworming to reduce the risk of human tapeworm caused by the faecal matter of the dogs. Puppies have to be dewormed every month to prevent risk of zoonotic diseases, officials said. The GCC has microchipped 6,500 community dogs with information about location, date of birth control surgery, vaccination date, and health status. It will be able to retrieve information about the dogs by scanning the rice-sized chip implanted in their necks. A total of 1.8 lakh stray dogs have been identified in the city.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
For the first time, Nashik civic body to start stray cat sterilisation & vaccination
Nashik: The civic body has launched a programme to sterilise stray cats in the city for the first time. The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) administration invited tenders from agencies and contractors registered with the Animal Welfare Board of India to catch, sterilise, and vaccinate stray cats against rabies. Currently, the civic body captures stray dogs and sterilises them through private agencies, with approximately 800 stray dogs sterilised each month. Over the past nine years, around 80,000 dogs were sterilised by the NMC administration through appointed agencies. The teams respond to complaints about stray dogs, excluding those already sterilised. After the procedure, the dogs were returned to their original locations. Last month, the NMC general body approved the civic administration's proposal for the sterilisation and vaccination of stray cats. This action aligns with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and the Animal Birth Control (dogs) Rules, 2022, which mandate control of the stray cat population. State govt had previously issued relevant guidelines through a circular. NMC officials said they have floated the bid for the sterilisation of stray cats and their vaccinations against rabies. The last date for bid submission is July 29. The appointed agency for cat sterilisation will be required to establish necessary facilities, including an operation theatre, a dedicated cat ward, and essential utilities such as water and electricity. The initial contract period is set for one year, with an estimated cost of Rs 20 lakh, funded under the stray animal sterilisation budget. NMC has allocated Rs 3.5 crore in its budget for the financial year 2025-26.
