Rajasthan First State To Issue Stray Dog Management Guidelines
Rajasthan has become the first state in India to roll out comprehensive guidelines for managing stray dogs, responding promptly to a recent Supreme Court directive. The Department of Local Self-Government has mandated all urban local bodies to follow the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023.
Humane Practices And Structured Management
Municipalities must now designate feeding spots in every ward, in coordination with resident and animal welfare groups. Food and water must even be provided in rabies-affected areas. Stray dogs must be sterilized, vaccinated, dewormed, tagged, and released back to their original localities. Only trained teams may catch dogs using humane methods—nets or by hand; use of harmful tools is banned. Dogs under six months and nursing mothers are exempt from capture or surgery.
Monitoring, Transparency And Reporting
Civic bodies must submit compliance reports within 30 days. Sterilization centers must have CCTV in operation theatres, and detailed records—covering treatment, feeding, mortality, and staff logs—must be kept. Monitoring committees including animal welfare representatives will oversee implementation. NGOs recognized by the Animal Welfare Board of India will receive fixed payments per dog sterilised and treated.
