Centre Directs Local Bodies to Ensure Only Recognised Organisations Carry Out Animal Birth Control Programme in Stray Dogs

GG News Bureau

New Delhi, 20th April. The Centre asked local bodies on Tuesday to make sure that only recognized organizations carry out the recently notified animal birth control program in stray dogs.

The Municipal Corporations must jointly implement the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Program and the Anti Rabies Program, according to a release from the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying.

The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 were issued following the guidelines of the Supreme Court in a case between Animal Welfare Board of India and People for Elimination of Stray Troubles, it said.

The 2023 guidelines, which were notified on March 10 by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, supersede the 2001 Animal Birth Control (Dog) guidelines under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

According to the new laws, the Animal Birth Control (ABC) program for sterilization and immunization of stray dogs is to be carried out by the respective local authorities.

One of the requirements under the rule is that the ABC Programme needs to be carried out by organisations recognised by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) specifically for this purpose, it said.

The list of such organizations will be made available on the Board’s website, which will be updated on a regular basis, it said, adding that the cruelty associated in carrying out the ABC program must be addressed.

“Therefore, the local bodies are requested to implement the rules in letter and spirit and not to permit any organizations to carry out ABC programmes which are not recognized by AWBI and approved for ABC programme or otherwise elaborated in the rules,” it added.

According to the ministry, the rules also outline how to handle human-stray dog problems without relocating canines in an area.

By effective implementation of these rules, the ABC can be conducted by the local bodies which will help in reducing the stray dog population addressing the animal welfare issues, it added.