Ahmedabad, June 3: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has implemented a structured framework to manage stray dogs in public spaces, adhering to directives from the Supreme Court. This initiative focuses on educational institutions, health centers, sports complexes, bus depots, and railway stations, balancing practical limitations of shelter capacities with animal welfare regulations.
Naresh Rajput, Head of the Cat Nuisance Control Department (CNCD), confirmed that approximately 1,050 locations falling under these five categories have been identified and surveyed. These sites are classified as ‘public places’ by the Supreme Court, necessitating precautionary measures for dog management.
According to the Supreme Court’s directives, which the AMC has adopted, institutions must prevent stray dogs from entering their premises. This involves erecting fences, reinforcing boundaries, properly disposing of waste, and appointing nodal officers to ensure compliance and monitoring.
Rajput stated that each institution has been assigned a nodal officer responsible for ensuring that dogs do not enter the premises and that food waste is disposed of correctly to avoid attracting strays. The officer must also ensure that security personnel are aware of these protocols and that boundary walls are secure to prevent dogs from jumping inside.
Institutions have been instructed to manage waste disposal appropriately and avoid littering food waste in open areas, as this can lead to the congregation of stray dogs.
AMC officials confirmed that inspections are conducted regularly. During these inspections, teams check for the presence of sterilized and unsterilized dogs within the premises. Unsterilized dogs found in institutional areas are captured and sent for sterilization, while aggressive or biting dogs are sent to shelters for monitoring and treatment.
Rajput noted that under this category-based initiative, around 48 dogs have been removed from these institutions so far. Surveys revealed that approximately 5,000 to 5,500 stray dogs are spread across the identified premises, with an average of two to three dogs per site. In larger, open institutions, this number can reach up to ten.
The AMC clarified that the dog population found in institutions is only a fraction of the total stray dog population in the city, estimated to exceed 200,000, based on a survey conducted in 2019.
The ongoing scientific census aims to update these figures using GPS-enabled mobile apps and ward-wise mapping. Rajput emphasized that the AMC’s efforts are limited by the capacity of shelters. Currently, the city has the capacity to house approximately 480 to 550 dogs across various shelters.
He mentioned that by the end of the expansion cycle, this capacity is expected to increase to about 1,180 dogs, as new shelters are being constructed in Naroda, Vastral, and Lambha, each capable of housing around 200 dogs.
Rajput stated that while the Supreme Court’s directives emphasize the removal of stray dogs from public institutions, their implementation must be balanced with the practicality of operations and the ‘Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023.’ These rules require sterilization of dogs after medical procedures, followed by their controlled return to the environment.
He added that the AMC operates within its capacity limits. It is not feasible to remove all dogs, so priority is given to cases involving biting and aggressive dogs.
Current AMC data indicates that around 84 aggressive dogs are housed in shelters for behavioral assessment. The municipal corporation has also established a system for managing dog bite incidents. Upon receiving a complaint, a team, including a veterinarian, a sanitation inspector, and an animal catcher, investigates the scene.
This team identifies the relevant dog and checks its vaccination history to determine whether capture or treatment is necessary.
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