Overpopulation of stray dogs is a critical challenge that India is facing today. India is a highly populated country with 1.34 billion people (2017) and 30 million stray dogs, it is even more difficult to maintain the balance between the stray population and humans.

Rising population of stray dogs is a threat to the public in terms of a nuisance as well as their part in the transmission of diseases. It is estimated by (WHO) world health organization that 20,000 Indians die per annum due to rabies.

Stray dog crisis has been there for decades. Earlier, methods like strychnine poisoning or electrocution, brutal killing, and incineration employed by the municipal corporations have not proved effective in controlling the stray populations. The main short coming was, once the good numbers of dogs are removed, within a short span of time it will be replaced by another pack. Dogs from nearby area migrate to this area. Considering the scenario, more humane and long term method to control the urban dog population was put forth which is systematic sterilization. It was supported by Smt. Maneka Gandhi. In the following years, these methods were improvised and substituted by the (ABC) animal birth control and (ARV) anti rabies vaccination programmes.

In this programme, stray dogs from different streets will be captured by loop and sack methods. After a basic hematological examination

female dogs will be spayed and males will be castrated. This is a surgical procedure in which in the case of female ovaries and uterus will be removed and in the case of male testicles will be removed. Prior to surgery general anesthesia, analgesics (pain killers) will be administered. This programme relatively concentrates more on bitches because one non-spayed bitch can give up to 12 pups in a year, it will help in reducing the disputes between males as there are fewer bitches in estrus (heat period) and also spayed bitches can maintain their body condition in limited food as they are not in gestation or lactation.

After the surgery they will be retained for post operative care for few days before releasing anti rabies vaccination will also be administered. Sterilized dog’s ear will be notched as an identification mark. Soon they will get released to the same street from where they have been captured which will help to maintain the harmony and hierarchy, it will also help in preventing the inward migration of other dogs.

ABC programme and vaccination has been employed all over India which is showing positive results to this crisis. Indian government is promoting this programme to the optimum level in order to secure the public at the same time to treat the animals humanely.

As a veterinarian and an animal lover, I totally support this programme. In a developing country like India, this is the best, possible, effective and feasible solution we have come up with till date.

I believe everything has its own pros and cons. Cons will be, people complaining about the public nuisances that dogs create which again put pressure on the municipality to take actions like mass euthanization.

Often pros go unnoticed, we refuse to admit the fact that they guard that particular street like any other watch dogs. They prevent the inward migration of other dogs too.

Most of us think that providing food to stray dogs is directly proportional to the number of stray population in that area, but there is a different angle to it. They only need their daily bread; survival is the only key word for them. If you provide enough food for them they will never be a nuisance. Filthy garbage bags here and there are the signs of hunger. Therefore quenching their hunger will definitely reduce the public nuisance.

Each one of us has our own part to play, in spite of all the government’s efforts to reduce the stray dog population there is a good percent of people who adopt or buy a pet dog but once they fall sick they just abandon them which again contribute to the stray population. This crisis can only be solved if the government and people work together. ABC programme will take some years to show its full effect as the current population has to be maintained, once this sterilized population washes off it will be a permanent solution till then patience should be our mantra.

Humans being superior to all the species it is always easy to remove threats and nuisances. Earth doesn’t belong to humans alone it is meant for coexistence. Equilibrium is required if not nature will always have its own means to acquire it.

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