The meeting was attended by all the members of ABC Monitoring committee viz. Dr. Zaffar Iqbal, LDO, Jammu; Dr. Vinod Sharma, Health Officer JMC; Dr. Divya Sharma, MVO JMC; Dr. Manmeet Singh, VAS, MACC Roop Nagar; Namrata Hakhoo, Founder/ Chairperson, Hakhoo Street Animals Foundation Trust (Regd and. Devinder Kour Madaan, Chairperson, SAVE (NGO).
A detailed discussion was held on the various aspects and progress of the ongoing ABC/ARV program being implemented by JMC in collaboration with Friendicoes-SECA (Delhi based Animal Welfare Organization) at Municipal Animal Care Centre, Roop Nagar, Jammu.
Dr. Divya Sharma, MVO, JMC appraised the committee that since the outsourcing of ABC/ARV programme to FRIENDICOES-SECA from April 2021 to ending Jan 2024, as many as 20112 stray dogs have been sterilized/immunized with ward wise /complaint basis catching. “All sterilized dogs have been relocated in the same area from where they were caught as per the ABC (Dogs) Rules, 2023 promulgated under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960” she added.
MVO, JMC further appraised that so far a total of 38546 stray dogs have been sterilized/ vaccinated in JMC limits out of the estimated street dog population of 50000 by taking into account previous ABC/ ARV done by the JMC.
The meeting decided to constitute ward wise/ zone wise coordination committees consisting of representatives of Resident Welfare Associations and Animal activists/ volunteers for effective implementation of the ABC programme in JMC limits. The Committees will work in their respective wards based on general public complaints.
For the regulation of pet dog population, the Committee decided to intensify the awareness campaigns as well as enforcement drives for pet dog registration with mandatory spaying of female pet dogs in accordance with Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2023 & Municipal Corporation Act, 2000. Notices regarding the same shall be published accordingly.
The Commissioner JMC expressed satisfaction over the implementation of the ABC programme in JMC limits and advised to focus on areas having maximum unsterilized dog population. He directed MVO, JMC to intensify the IEC activities to educate the general public by involving schools, colleges, universities & Resident Welfare organizations about the effectiveness of ABC/ARV programme in helping to reduce street dog population as well as eradicating rabies.