Dehradun is witnessing a surge in stray dog attacks, prompting the Nagar Nigam to take strict measures. The capacity of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) centre will be increased from 70 to over 200 dogs. A proposal has been prepared and will be presented in the upcoming board meeting. Additionally, a dog complaint cell with a toll-free number will be launched, and awareness campaigns through posters and banners will be initiated.
Senior veterinary officer Dr. Varun Agrawal stated that since 2016, around 53,000 dogs have been sterilised and vaccinated, but nearly 20% remain untreated. Aggressive dogs will now be identified, kept at the ABC centre for longer periods, treated, and only released once they calm down.
Under the new policy, people who regularly feed stray dogs will also be held accountable. If such dogs attack pedestrians, the feeders will be considered as owners and fined between ₹1,000–2,000.
The Nagar Nigam has gained relief from new Supreme Court guidelines, which now permit removing aggressive stray dogs from localities and keeping them in shelters. Mayor Saurabh Thapliyal said this will make enforcement easier and provide citizens much-needed relief.
Commissioner Namami Bansal has instructed the veterinary section to intensify awareness drives. Every Sunday, dog registration camps will be organised in different societies to identify and monitor dangerous breeds. Over ₹5 crore has already been spent in the past nine years on sterilisation campaigns, with each procedure costing nearly ₹1,000 per dog.
Nagar Nigam’s key action plan includes:
– Identifying and isolating aggressive strays
– Speeding up sterilisation and vaccination
– Strict pet dog registration rules
– Accountability for people feeding strays
– Public awareness to prevent dog attacks
