Bhubaneswar: In the wake of the Supreme Court’s revised verdict on stray dogs, the Odisha government on Saturday announced a comprehensive plan of action to deal with the animals.
Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallick said concrete steps are being taken to count, sterilise, and vaccinate stray dogs across the state. The state government would strictly implement the guidelines laid down by the Court.
Stating that stray dogs will be released in their original places after sterilisation and vaccination, he said those found to be violent or suffering from rabies will be kept in shelters.
As per official data, there are over seven lakh stray dogs in Odisha, compared to around 64,000 registered pet dogs. Officials said the sheer population of strays has created challenges ranging from street safety to health hazards, prompting the need for systematic control measures. A fresh census will also be conducted to update this figure.
The Minister said his department has been assigned the task of carrying out sterilisation, vaccination, and census of the stray dogs in the state. Cases of accidental injuries to stray dogs can also be reported to the department via the 1962 toll-free number. Such dogs will be rescued, provided with healthcare, vaccinated, and released after sterilisation, he said.
Apart from the sterilisation drive, the department has instructed municipalities to regulate feeding practices. Residents have been advised not to feed stray dogs indiscriminately on roadsides. Instead, designated feeding zones will be created where individuals and NGOs can provide food.
In a bid to check strays from scavenging on open waste, fresh rules prohibit the slaughter and disposal of chicken or mutton along roadsides. Shops will now be required to cut meat only at designated sites and dispose of remains responsibly.
While urban local bodies have been asked to ensure compliance with the new guidelines, NGOs and outfits working for animal welfare will be roped in to manage feeding in identified sites and to assist in vaccination drives.
