Over 16K street dogs sterilised, vaccinated in Prayagraj

In an effort to curb the stray dog menace in Sangam city, the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation (PMC) initiated a sterilisation and vaccination drive that has now been in operation for over a year and a half. As of March 26, 2025, a total of 16,334 street dogs have undergone sterilisation and vaccination, informed civic officials on Thursday.

To regulate stray dog population, maintain their health, and reduce human-dog conflicts, PMC is working on various initiatives. The importance of the move can be gauged from the fact that in Sangam city, there are approximately 5 to 6 street dogs for every 100 residents residing in the city limits, officials added.

In addition to sterilisation, street dogs will soon receive anti-rabies injections to protect both humans and animals. This new phase of the campaign is scheduled to begin in May 2025.

Under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules of 2023, only 70-75% of the street dog population can be sterilised. Moreover, the dogs must be returned to the exact location from where they were captured.

According to animal welfare officials, sterilisation and vaccination help reduce the aggression of street dogs, which leads to fewer incidents of biting and aggression towards humans.

Sterilisation Process: What it takes

Sterilisation of street dogs generally takes around 5 to 6 days, and can take up to even 10 days in some cases. The current capacity for sterilisation is 30 to 40 dogs per day in Prayagraj. As of now, 9950 male and 6384 female dogs have been sterilised, said officials.

The areas covered by the stray dog birth control campaign include, Mutthiganj (Ward-88), Atala (Ward-100), Krishna Nagar Kydganj (Ward-30), Shahganj Garhisarai (Ward-90), Daraganj (Ward-73), Alopibagh (Ward-48), Beniganj (Ward-74) and Katra (Ward-78), informed Dr Bijay Amrit Raj, the Animal Husbandry Officer of the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation.

Sterilisation process

Animal welfare teams equipped with vehicles head out to capture street dogs using nets and sticks. After sterilisation, a triangular mark is made on the dog’s ear for identification. For other dogs, a special dye is sprayed on them, which remains visible for about a week. After sterilisation, surveys and counting are conducted in local streets and wards to track the progress.

Anti-Rabies campaign starting in May

PMC’s animal husbandry officer Dr Bijay Amrit Raj explained that the central government has issued guidelines for administering anti-rabies doses to street dogs. Starting in May, the campaign will begin in Prayagraj with plans to provide the anti-rabies dose to all street dogs every 5 to 6 years.

Dr Raj further explained that sterilisation not only reduces aggression in street dogs but also improves their health. It helps prevent various health issues that affect them. The goal is to complete the sterilisation and vaccination process for street dogs as soon as possible, though it may take several more years to finish, as it is an ongoing process.

Registration of pet dogs

Dr Raj added that, so far, only 1,300 pet dogs have been registered with the municipal corporation, even though the number is significantly higher in the city. He urged pet owners to register their dogs with the corporation, as penalties will soon be imposed on those who fail to comply.