Srinagar grapples with escalating stray dog population

Srinagar. Nov 10: Towns and suburbs of Kashmir, primarily Srinagar is grappling with escalating stray dog population. As intensified sterilisation programs of Srinagar mark two years of activity, questions arise about the effectiveness and pace of these efforts and the strain that winter weather puts on momentum.

The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), responsible for managing the stray dog population, has made some strides. Since the Animal Birth Control (ABC) and Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV) Program began two years ago, over 14,000 dogs have been sterilised, with more than 5,000 sterilizations in 2023 alone, official figures provided by the Corporation reveal. According to Dr Ovais Ahmed Khan, SMC Commissioner, 6,702 dogs have been sterilized in 2024, a 26 percent increase from the previous year. Anti-rabies vaccinations have also risen by nearly 30 percent, from 5,283 in 2023 to 6,848 in 2024.

However, the numbers reveal a slow path to controlling the stray population. Even with intensified efforts, sterilizing approximately 7,000 dogs annually is far from sufficient to cover the total population quickly enough to achieve a significant impact. Given that authorities typically aim to sterilize at least 70 percent of the population to stabilise numbers, Srinagar would need around 63,000 dogs sterilized—a goal that, at the current rate, could take nearly a decade to meet, provided there is no further increase in the dog population. Residents and experts alike argue this timeline is simply too slow to address the urgency of the situation.

Kashmir’s harsh winters bring sterilisation programs to a halt for five months due to concerns for animal welfare and logistical challenges. “The sterilisation process is going on in full swing,” explained Dr Khan, “but due to concerns about animal safety, the animals cannot be operated upon in peak cold months.”

Stakeholders worry that this five-month break undoes much of the progress made during the rest of the year. “How can we expect to control the stray dog population if we stop sterilization for nearly half the year?” asks Fatima Khan, a local resident. “During this time, reproduction continues unchecked, and our efforts seem to stall.” Some experts recommend finding solutions to continue sterilisations in colder months, potentially through climate-controlled mobile units or temporary indoor facilities.

Inadequate infrastructure is another barrier slowing down sterilization efforts. Currently, the SMC and its partner, the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, rely on limited facilities that are strained by the high volume of sterilizations required. Many advocates believe that without significantly upgrading facilities, the City will struggle to meet its sterilization targets. Additional facilities with modern equipment and more efficient workflows would help increase the pace and reliability of the program, especially if expanded to allow work during colder months.

Many residents allege that the sterilsation process is more about numbers than making ‘real difference’. “They will pick a few dogs from every locality while leaving a significant number of fertile animals behind to continue breeding. They need to sanitise an area before they move on to the other,” a resident of Raj Bagh area said.

Dr Tawheed Ahmed Najar, SMC Veterinary Officer told Greater Kashmir that the program was being fine-tuned. “We have involved Ward Officers for assisting the ABC teams and ensure maximum coverage of the areas they work in,” he said. Regarding the constraints of limited capacity of sterilization facilities, he said, “We have a scientific and spacious facility coming up at Chatterhama, Srinagar. It will take the ABC to the level it needs to be at,” he said. He said the facility would be ready by next year.

Experts have for long called for addressing issues like inadequate waste management to help reduce the stray population more effectively. Improved waste management, for instance, could reduce food sources for strays, which would likely slow their reproduction rates. In addition, increased funding for sterilization programs to raise the annual number of sterilized dogs and reduce time to achieve population control, many feel, is long overdue.