Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Accelerates Stray Dog Rehabilitation Efforts
In a significant move to comply with the Supreme Court's directive on stray dog management, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has formally requested land allocation for establishing permanent shelters. On Tuesday, civic officials wrote to the Khurda district collector seeking a suitable patch of land on the city outskirts specifically for this purpose.
Implementing Supreme Court Guidelines for Animal Welfare
BMC officials emphasized that rehabilitation forms a crucial component of the comprehensive stray dog management strategy mandated by the Supreme Court, alongside sterilization and anti-rabies vaccination programs. "We wrote to the Khurda collector to provide us land to house street dogs," confirmed BMC additional commissioner Ratnakar Sahoo. "They are expected to begin looking for the land soon along with BMC teams. Once finalized, we will develop the shelters as quickly as possible."
The municipal corporation is planning to develop three categories of shelters in accordance with Supreme Court guidelines:
- Shelters accommodating 100 dogs
- Facilities designed for 500 dogs
- Larger shelters capable of housing 1,000 dogs
Temporary Arrangements and Future Plans
While permanent facilities are being established, BMC will utilize existing kennels at Saheed Nagar and Mancheswar on a temporary basis. The Saheed Nagar kennel is currently undergoing renovation, and upon completion, its capacity for sterilization procedures will increase from 20 to 40 dogs per day.
"The dogs will be housed in shelters until their natural death. They will be provided food and treatment," explained a BMC officer, outlining the long-term care approach for rehabilitated animals.
Comprehensive Capture and Vaccination Strategy
As per Supreme Court directions, BMC will systematically capture stray dogs found in specific high-traffic areas including:
- Bus stands and railway stations
- Hospitals and medical facilities
- Airports and transportation hubs
- Educational institutions like schools and colleges
- Government and private office complexes within BMC limits
These captured dogs will be transferred to the shelters for rehabilitation. Additionally, BMC has completed all formalities to launch an anti-rabies mass vaccination campaign beginning in the first week of March.
Previous Cooperation with Khurda Administration
The current land request follows previous successful collaboration between BMC and Khurda administration. "Khurda administration allotted us land for creating a burial ground for burying carcasses of stray animals, including dogs," added Sahoo, indicating established channels of cooperation for animal welfare initiatives.
This comprehensive approach represents Bhubaneswar's commitment to implementing humane and effective stray dog management while adhering to judicial directives for animal protection and public safety.
