Lucknow finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with the dual challenge of managing its street dog population humanely while addressing a worrying spike in dog bites, a situation sharply intensified by the recent Diwali festivities.

The city’s ambitious Animal Birth Control (ABC) program, aimed at controlling the stray dog population, has yet to gain the momentum needed, with limited infrastructure and manpower being cited as major obstacles.

Lucknow's efforts to humanely manage its street dog population through its ABC program have hit a critical juncture. While a significant 84% of the city's strays are now sterilised and vaccinated, the daily pace of the programme has stalled at just 40-60 dogs, despite a Supreme Court directive to accelerate the work. Officials cite limited infrastructure and manpower as the key bottlenecks.

Animal welfare organisations, such as Humane World for Animals India, argue that these efforts are insufficient given the city’s growing stray dog population, which was estimated at 75,000 in 2019.

This slowdown has had direct public health consequences. The city witnessed a dramatic spike in dog bites following Diwali, with major hospitals reporting a surge in cases. The KGMU Trauma Centre, for instance, is now administering 35 anti-rabies vaccines daily, a massive jump from the 4-5 cases it handled before the festival.

Experts attribute the rise to noise from firecrackers, which stresses dogs and increases aggression, compounded by their seasonal breeding period. The situation underscores the urgent need to ramp up the ABC program to ensure both animal welfare and public safety.

Despite the challenges, there is a path forward. The much-touted 'Lucknow Model' for dog population control is set to be replicated across Uttar Pradesh. A key to scaling up efforts is a new ABC centre, which is slated to double the city's sterilisation capacity once it becomes operational. For now, the city continues its tightrope walk, balancing a nationally recognised humane program with the urgent need to ensure public safety.

Alongside the government’s ongoing efforts to track and sterilize stray dogs, responsible citizens can also play a part in keeping the city safer.
If you notice untagged stray dogs in your area, share their location with the authorities using the helpline numbers below.

• Sterilisation is a humane and essential process; it helps control stray dog populations, reduces dog-bite incidents, and improves the overall health and wellbeing of the animals.

• Under the sterilization programme, dogs are tracked, humanely captured, sterilised, vaccinated, and then returned to their original areas.

• You can identify sterilised dogs by a small notch or “chip” on one ear, which serves as a visual tag (as shown in the image)

WhatsApp Helplines: 9219902911/9219902912/9219902913/9219902914

Toll-Free Number: 1533