Over 1.52 lakh stray dogs in J-K urban areas, 43,200 sterilised: CM

More than 1.52 lakh stray dogs are estimated in the urban centres of Jammu and Kashmir , including 64,416 in Srinagar city , Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told the Legislative Assembly, citing a survey conducted in 2023. “The estimated number of stray dogs in major urban centres of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is 1,52,775 , which includes 64,416 in Srinagar city ,” he said in reply to a question by National Conference MLA Tanvir Sadiq.

Highlighting the progress under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme , Abdullah said, “Between June 2023 and September 2025, 43,200 stray dogs have been sterilised across the UT, with 21,600 in Srinagar Municipal Corporation and 13,730 in Jammu Municipal Corporation .” He added, “The programme is monitored through a multi-tier mechanism , including a UT Level Monitoring Committee, urban local body panels, real-time tracking via the ABC mobile application, CCTV surveillance, digital financial monitoring, and a grievance redressal system.”

Acknowledging that no external evaluation has yet been conducted, the chief minister said, “ Continuous oversight is being carried out by committees at the UT and municipal levels, including representatives from concerned departments and animal welfare organisations.”

Addressing public safety, Abdullah said, “ Children and elderly citizens are particularly vulnerable , and the government is taking several measures to manage the stray dog population humanely.” He outlined initiatives including the expansion of ABC centres , from one to three in Jammu and additional centres in Srinagar, along with continuous sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination drives .

Other steps include establishing designated feeding spots away from schools and crowded areas , conducting public awareness campaigns , securing land for shelters, deploying mobile sterilisation units, running sanitation drives to reduce waste that attracts strays, and training dog-catching staff. “We are also complying with Supreme Court directives , including fencing vulnerable public spaces and appointing nodal officers,” he added.

Abdullah concluded, “The government is actively implementing a structured and humane strategy for managing the stray dog population, balancing animal welfare with public safety.”