Hyderabad continues to grapple with a persistent public safety challenge as the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) faces an alarming annual average of 30,000 reported cases of dog bites. Despite GHMC’s ongoing efforts through the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme, aimed at managing the city’s stray dog population, the menace remains a pressing concern for residents.
Over the past decade, Hyderabad has documented a staggering 3 lakh cases of dog bites, alongside 3.6 lakh complaints related to the presence of stray dogs from 2014 to mid-2024. GHMC officials confirm that since 2014, they have sterilised and vaccinated approximately 7.2 lakh street dogs in a bid to control rabies outbreaks.
Estimates indicate that Hyderabad is home to around 4 lakh stray dogs, a population that significantly impacts public health. In 2023 alone, the city’s Fever Hospital administered more than 75,000 rabies vaccinations due to incidents involving dog attacks.
GHMC’s efforts to tackle this issue include a robust infrastructure and manpower deployment. The corporation employs six shelter managers, 22 para-veterinarians, and 362 semi-skilled veterinary workers on a contractual basis. In support of their operations, GHMC utilizes 30 civic vehicles and contracts an additional 20 for dog catching initiatives.
The annual expenditure for maintaining five animal care centres amounts to ₹11.5 crore.
Recently, a high-level committee comprising ward members from all political parties conducted inspections of GHMC’s animal care centres. This committee engaged with NGOs, activists, volunteers, and veterinarians to formulate recommendations aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the ABC-anti rabies programme. Their suggestions include intensifying round-the-clock dog catching operations, launching awareness campaigns across 1,066 schools, and educating residents on safe interaction with street dogs.
A GHMC official emphasized the corporation’s commitment to implementing these recommendations, which include conducting three shifts of dog catching operations daily and disseminating guidelines on responsible pet ownership and dog bite management in residential associations and schools.
