JAMMU, SEPT 23: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has stepped up efforts to address the growing stray dog population through a scientific and multi-pronged strategy, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah informed the Legislative Assembly.
Responding to a question in the House, the Chief Minister said the government is implementing Animal Birth Control (ABC) and Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV) programmes to systematically sterilise and vaccinate stray dogs across Jammu and Kashmir.
The government is also augmenting the capacity of existing ABC facilities while establishing new centres and deploying dedicated veterinary medical staff across Urban Local Bodies to strengthen the response mechanism.
Under the National Rabies Control Programme, anti-rabies treatment is being made available at health facilities to ensure timely medical intervention and prevent fatalities arising from rabies exposure.
The government is simultaneously strengthening solid waste management systems and introducing regulated feeding points to curb the availability of open food sources that contribute to the proliferation of stray dogs.
In a major institutional step, Omar Abdullah has approved the creation of dedicated Expert Animal Birth Control verticals under Jammu Smart City Limited and Srinagar Smart City Limited.
The specialised verticals will involve recruitment of trained manpower equipped with modern ABC protocols, which will subsequently be deployed across Urban Local Bodies for scientific and coordinated management of the stray dog population.
The government said the integrated approach is aimed at controlling the stray dog population, reducing the risk of dog bites and rabies, and improving public safety while ensuring humane management of animals.
