Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to regulate the feeding of stray dogs in public areas. Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallick on Saturday announced that feeding of stray dogs will only be allowed at designated spots across the state.
This decision comes in the wake of a Supreme Court order on stray dog management. The court has directed that stray dogs must be returned to their original locations after sterilisation, vaccination, and deworming, as per the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023. However, dogs infected with rabies or showing aggressive behaviour will be kept in shelters and not released back.
Minister Mallick said the department will soon begin a state-wide census of stray dogs.
“We estimate that there are around 7 lakh stray dogs and 64,000 pet dogs in Odisha. The department will sterilise, vaccinate, and count all stray dogs. Those suffering from serious diseases will be kept in shelters,” said Minister Mallick while addressing media persons.
As part of the new rules, municipalities will also take steps to raise public awareness. People will be discouraged from feeding stray dogs on roads and near residential areas. The Minister said that feeding should take place only at fixed locations set up by local bodies.
He also added that strict action will be taken against shopkeepers who dump or feed meat waste to stray dogs.
“Chicken and mutton should not be cut in open public places. Leftover meat should not be thrown near roads or fed to strays. Meat cutting and disposal must be done in designated areas,” Mallick said.
The government also appealed to social organisations and NGOs to feed stray dogs only at approved feeding points.
