‘2023 survey using Peterson-Lincoln Method estimates 64,000 stray dogs in city’
The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has launched an ambitious sterilization and vaccination campaign to control the rising population of stray dogs in the summer capital.
“Under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme, more than 21,000 stray dogs will be sterilized in the next 16 months, Municipal Veterinary Officer (MVO) of Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Dr. Fazil, confirmed on Monday.
Speaking to news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), Dr. Fazil said the programme, which began on August 14, 2025, is being carried out in a scientific and humane manner.
“We have set a target of sterilizing 1,350 dogs per month, which comes to around 45 dogs per day. The programme will continue for 16 months and will cover all 35 municipal wards of Srinagar,” he explained.
He said that the drive is being implemented strictly under the Animal Birth Control Rules 2023 and in line with the guidelines issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI).
“The SMC has hired a professional agency for this task, and it is binding on them to complete the process in time. The dogs are sterilized, administered anti-rabies vaccines, and then released back at the same location from where they are picked up,” Fazil said.
Calling the initiative a humane population control method, he added, “This is not just about numbers. It is about ensuring public safety while treating animals in a scientific and compassionate way.”
Dispelling public fears, Dr. Fazil categorically stated that no rabies cases have been found in Srinagar’s stray dogs.
“As per municipal records, none of the dogs across the 35 wards have tested positive for rabies. If rabies is ever detected in humans, it is confirmed and reported through medical authorities,” he clarified.
According to Dr. Fazil, the 2023 scientific dog survey, conducted using the Peterson-Lincoln method, estimated Srinagar’s stray dog population at nearly 64,000, while he said that current rough estimates and media reports suggest around 35,000 dogs in the city.
However, he said that the 2023 survey is not relevant at present.
He explained that most dog bite cases occur during natural circumstances. “Bites usually happen when male dogs fight over females during mating season, or when mother dogs feel their puppies are under threat,” he said.
Dr. Fazil admitted that the sterilization teams faced resistance from locals in areas like Batamaloo.
“Recently, when our teams were catching dogs, people assumed we were killing them and selling the meat because of the recent meat scandal. This is totally false and baseless. We even had to seek police help to calm the situation,” he revealed.
To address these concerns, SMC has put in place a dedicated mobile application to monitor sterilization operations in real time. “Every step is digitally tracked to ensure transparency and accountability. There is no room for malpractice,” Fazil assured.
He also disclosed that a state-of-the-art sterilization facility at Chatterhama is nearing completion. “Once functional, it will significantly enhance our capacity, allowing us to sterilize more dogs each day,” he said.
It is to mention here that no sterilizations were conducted after November 2023, as the earlier contract with the agency had expired and a new one had not been finalized until recently.(KINS) Ishtiyaq Kar
