In Ahmedabad, the sterilisation of stray dogs is managed by private agencies. Since 2021, the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has paid ₹976 for each dog. Now, they propose to raise this cost to ₹1,650 per dog. This change aligns with the new Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules-2023. The Animal Welfare Board of India has set ₹1,650 as the standard rate for recognised organisations handling stray dog populations.
The AMC aims to assign the sterilisation work to Shri Yash Domestic Research Center and Shri People for Animals. They have set a budget of ₹3 crore for this work over the next two years. The proposed increase means a rise of ₹674 per dog compared to the earlier cost.
Ahmedabad has around 200,000 stray dogs. In areas with many complaints, especially regarding dog bites, AMC has started a dog population survey. The first phase of this survey is being conducted by the Goal Foundation in selected wards of the city.
Over the past five years, the AMC has spent more than ₹12 crore on dog sterilisation. Here’s a summary of the costs and number of dogs sterilised each year:
| Year | Dogs Sterilised | Cost (in crore ₹) |
|———-|—————-|——————-|
| 2021-22 | 30,360 | 4.64 |
| 2022-23 | 46,471 | 4.43 |
| 2023-24 | 40,206 | 3.82 |
| 2024-25 | 14,461 | 1.41 |
| 2025-26* | 1,658 | 1.61 |
The proposal to increase the sterilisation cost will be discussed at the upcoming AMC Health Committee meeting for final approval. This change aims to improve the management of stray dog populations in the city, making it safer for residents and more humane for the animals. The AMC hopes that this new approach will help reduce the number of stray dogs in the long run and ensure better care and control over their population.
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