Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) will launch a citywide dog census from the second week of September, officials announced on Thursday.
The exercise will be conducted in the early morning hours when the surroundings remain relatively quiet and stray dogs usually gather on the roads, making the counting process easier.
According to BMC Commissioner Chanchal Rana, the census will involve Swachh Sathis (cleanliness volunteers), sanitation workers, and BMC officials. All participants will undergo special training before the exercise begins.
The dog counting will be carried out simultaneously in all wards on the advice of veterinary experts. For each ward, three to four officials will be deployed, and the entire process is expected to be completed within seven to ten days.
The commissioner said the census will help determine the actual number of dogs in Bhubaneswar and their distribution across different areas. Until now, dog numbers were only estimated based on population data.
The current estimate suggests that the city has 40,000 to 45,000 dogs. The upcoming exercise will provide accurate figures for better planning and management.
