GHMC Champions animal welfare on world animal day 2025

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) marked World Animal Day with a resounding commitment to the theme "Save Animals, Save the Planet." In a heartfelt social media post, GHMC showcased its ongoing efforts to intertwine animal welfare with environmental sustainability, unveiling a series of initiatives that have captured the attention of Hyderabad’s citizens.

The post, accompanied by striking images, painted a vivid picture of GHMC’s ground-level operations. One photo depicted a team in neon vests capturing a street dog for anti-rabies vaccination in the bustling lanes of Borabanda. Another showed a caretaker tenderly feeding three pups in a clean kennel, while a third captured a veterinary team performing surgery on an injured dog under anesthesia. The final image revealed staff mopping kennels and preparing meals, reflecting the meticulous care at GHMC’s five Animal Care Centres.

This year’s theme, proposed by Samar from Egypt and celebrated globally, underscores the symbiotic relationship between animal well-being and planetary health. GHMC’s initiatives align with this vision, including mass anti-rabies vaccinations, sterilizations to control the stray dog population, and wound care for injured animals. The corporation also ensures food and water for street dogs, alongside raising awareness about animal rights.

Digging deeper, GHMC’s efforts are bolstered by the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules 2023, framed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Recent data indicates over 80% of Hyderabad’s stray dogs have been sterilized, a testament to the collaboration with the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). The central government has allocated up to ₹800 per dog and ₹600 per cat for sterilization, a financial boost implemented since the current fiscal year. This aligns with a revised ABC module launched on August 11, 2025, aiming to eradicate rabies and reduce human-dog conflicts.

However, the narrative isn’t without controversy. A 2016 AWBI proposal, later retracted as an "error," suggested euthanizing aggressive dogs with a history of biting. This echoes in recent Supreme Court filings where GHMC has hinted at similar measures to balance public safety, sparking debates among activists like Rishi Dev, who argue it contradicts earlier humane policies.

The Blue Cross of Hyderabad, a key ally since 1992, complements GHMC’s work by focusing on birth control and vaccinations, particularly in the West Zone and upscale areas like Banjara Hills. Despite not accepting abandoned pets, redirecting them to 17 government vet hospitals the organization networks with citizen groups to prevent cruelty.

As Hyderabad embraces this global cause, GHMC’s efforts highlight a city striving for harmony between its human and animal inhabitants. With over 500 words of action-packed updates, this story isn’t just news, it's a call to action. Will Hyderabad set a precedent for India? Only time will tell, but for now, the city’s streets echo with the barks of a healthier future.