VIJAYAWADA: The Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) Department launched a structured, state-wide campaign to curb the increasing stray dog menace across all urban local bodies (ULBs).
The initiative emphasises large-scale rollout of Animal Birth Control (ABC) and Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV) programmes, in accordance with ABC Rules, 2023, and the Supreme Court’s recent directives issued on November 7, 2025.
Principal Secretary S Suresh Kumar and Director of Municipal Administration P Sampath Kumar have directed municipal commissioners to intensify sterilisation and vaccination efforts to prevent uncontrolled stray dog proliferation. They said the government has been committed to tackling the issue and has taken major steps since June 2024.
Official estimates place the stray dog population across 123 ULBs at around 5.15 lakh. As of June 1, 2024, 2.24 lakh dogs had been sterilised, with another 1.36 lakh procedures completed since then. Currently, 45 ULBs operate ABC centres equipped with kennels and operation theatres, with more centres expected to be established.
A workforce of 197 trained handlers and dog catchers has been deployed statewide. Municipal commissioners have been asked to identify aggressive or potentially rabid dogs and isolate them in designated shelters. The government also plans to set up dedicated pounds in major municipal corporations to house such animals, eventually extending the model to smaller ULBs.
To ensure seamless coordination, the State has constituted a State Animal Birth Control and Monitoring Committee, supported by local committees in every ULB. These panels include representatives from MAUD, Health, Animal Husbandry, Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, and members from the State and National Animal Welfare Boards.
Commissioners have been instructed to draft sterilisation action plans with specific daily and weekly targets, collaborate with certified agencies, conduct resurvey exercises and prioritise public safety.
ULBs have additionally been tasked with designating feeding zones and prohibiting animal feeding on public roads.
Suresh cautioned that negligence or delays in executing ABC and ARV measures would be viewed seriously.