Lok Sabha Question No. 2128 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-14
Subject: Animal Birth Control Rules
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Kumbakudi Sudhakaran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2128

TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 TH  MARCH, 2023

## ANIMAL BIRTH CONTROL RULES

## 2128. SHRI KUMBAKUDI SUDHAKARAN:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालनऔरडेयरीमंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the recent incidents of attacks by stray dogs leading to serious injuries and deaths in Kerala;
- (b) if so, the actions taken by the Government in this regard and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)  the  time  required  for  the  enactment  and  implementation  of  the  proposed  Animal  Birth Control  Rules,  2022  to  control  the  population  of  street  dogs  and  prevent  overcrowding  of strays;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  the  deaths  in  Kerala  primarily  due  to  dogmediated rabies;
- (e) if so, the actions taken in this regard and the current status of the National Action Plan for Dog Mediated Rabies Elimination by 2030; and
- (f)  the  total  number  of  professional  dog-catching  facilities  in  the  State  of  Kerala  and  the details of the steps taken for the effective vaccination, immunization and sterilisation of pets and street/stray dogs/cats in Kerala?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a)  &  (b)  Yes,  Sir.  The  control  of  stray  dog  population  is  under  the  mandate  of  the  State Government. As per information received from the state of Kerala, in order to tackle the stray dog  menace,  the State  Animal  Husbandry  Department  is  enforcing  compulsory  licensing  of owned dogs, annual vaccination of owned dogs and stray dogs, Animal Birth Control measures,

Animal shelters/Pounds, pet adoption and waste management. Proper implementation of these measures will bring down the incidence of dog bites in the State along with the elimination of dog-mediated Rabies in the state.

(c)  The  Proposed  Animal  Birth  Control  Rules,  2022  has  been  finalized  and  has  been  sent  to Government of India Press for publication.

(d) & (e) The State Government of Kerala has informed that they have constituted Joint Steering Committee  (JSC)  including  Secretaries  and Directors  and  key  persons  from  among  all stakeholders. The 1st JSC meeting was held on November 16, 2022 under the chairmanship of Chief  Secretary  wherein  it  was  decided  to  declare  animal  rabies  as  a  notifiable  disease  in  the state. State Action Plan is under preparation by Health Department including all line department strategies.  Vaccination  is  intensified  in  the  state.  Mass  Dog  Vaccination  and  Dog  Population Control  (through  ABC)  are  the  two  major  planks  for  the  control  of  dog  mediated  Rabies. Nineteen  Animal  Birth  Control  Centers(ABC)  are  functional.  More  ABC  centresare  being established in the State with the involvement of local bodies. Standard Operative Procedures(SOP) have been developed for pet dog & stray dog vaccination. Sero-monitoring and epidemiological investigations are being done concurrently. Laboratory networking &locationwise  mapping  of  Rabies  positive  cases  have  also  been  started  this  year.  Sero  monitoring  is piloted in selected areas. Pilot program on "Rabies Free Trivandrum" has been flagged off.

(f)  As informed by State Government of Kerala, there are 426 Trained dog catchers available in the State. The State has taken the following steps for effective vaccination, immunization and sterilization of pets and street/stray dogs/cats in Kerala:

## i) Mass Dog Vaccination

Mass  dog  vaccination  includes  the  vaccination  of  both  owned  dogs  and  stray  dogs/freely roaming dogs. September has been declared as the mass dog vaccination month henceforth to enforce  strict  prophylactic  vaccination  against  Rabies  in  Kerala.  The  vaccination  is  done  by conducting  vaccination  camps  in  all  the  local  bodies  with  the  co-operation  of  Local  Self Governments.  Since  Sep,  2022, 3.88  lakh  owned  dogs have  been  vaccinated  against  Rabies. Several State, District and Panchayat level meetings have been convened on a war footing basis to  tackle  the  stray  dog  menace  with  the  involvement  of  the  Animal  Husbandry  Department, Local Self Government Department and Health and Family Welfare Departments. Anti Rabies Vaccination of stray dogs has commenced in 170 identified hot spots. Vaccine is provided free of cost  by  the  Animal  Husbandry  Department.  Till  date, about  20,000  stray  dogs have  been vaccinated.

## ii) Animal Birth Control

As it was found that sufficient number of animal welfare organizations recognized by  Animal Welfare  Board  of  India  (AWBI)  are  not  there;  the  Local  Self  Government  Department, institutions were permitted to conduct the ABC programme together with the Animal Husbandry Department by using the basic facilities in the veterinary institutions. As per the latest situation regarding the Animal Birth Control-Anti Rabies programme (ABC-AR), 24 ABC centres have been identified throughout the State. Out of 24 Centres, 19 are functioning. Steps are also being taken to identify more ABC centers in all districts so as to extend the operation to all 152 blocks. 14,236 ABC surgeries have been done so far in this Financial Year.

## iii) Animal Shelters/Pounds

Local self government department will be constructing animal shelters / pounds for re-homing purposes  according  to  the  guidelines  laid  out  by  the  Animal  Welfare  Board  of  India(AWBI). Suspected rabid dogs will be Isolated separately with necessary precautions. The inherent fear among the public will be addressed to an extent. Locations away from residential areas will be chosen for setting up of animal shelters for stray, lost, abandoned and surrendered animals.

## iv) AwarenessProgrammes

Awareness programmes on responsible dog ownership, compulsory vaccination and licensing, post-bite/exposure  management  and  treatment,  adoption,  etc.  are  being  conducted  in  schools, residents associations, etc. through the Animal Husbandry Department, Health Department and Local Bodies.