Over the past two years, Uttar Pradesh has undertaken a significant effort to manage its stray dog population through an extensive animal birth control (ABC) program. According to recent reports, approximately 2.8 lakh stray dogs have been sterilized and vaccinated across the state during 2023-24 and 2024-25.

The Uttar Pradesh Urban Development Department (UDD) has been actively implementing animal birth control and anti-rabies vaccination programs across all 17 municipal corporations in the state. In addition to the sterilization efforts, the department has also issued 5,333 pet dog licenses this year to promote responsible pet ownership and community safety.

As of July 15, 2025, there are 17 permanent ABC centers operational throughout Uttar Pradesh, with plans to establish two more centers in Lucknow and Ghaziabad. Lucknow has already achieved a significant milestone, with 70% of its street dog population sterilized and vaccinated as of World Spay Day in February 2024. This achievement is attributed to the collaborative efforts of Humane Society International/India and the Lucknow Municipal Corporation, who launched the city's first ABC program in 2019.

These sterilization and vaccination initiatives are crucial for several reasons. Sterilization helps to control the stray dog population, preventing unchecked growth and reducing the number of puppies born into difficult circumstances. Vaccination is equally important, as it helps to prevent the spread of rabies, a deadly disease that can be transmitted to humans through dog bites.

The rise in stray dog attacks has become a cause of concern in Uttar Pradesh. In response, the UDD is raising public awareness, advising residents to avoid provoking stray dogs, supervise children when they are near animals, and seek immediate medical care in case of a dog bite. Citizens are also encouraged to report aggressive or unwell dogs to local authorities or a dedicated helpline (1533) for prompt action.

Recognizing the need for trained personnel in animal birth control procedures, the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) is planning to establish India's first animal birth control training center. The state government has already approved ₹1.25 crore for the project, which will include a dedicated facility at the veterinary hospital in the Indira Nagar area. The training center will focus on sterilization efforts and provide training in dog-catching and ABC procedures. Arvind Kumar Rao, an additional municipal commissioner, stated that the center would allow individuals to enroll for training by paying a nominal fee, covering dog-catching techniques and sterilization procedures to mitigate human-animal conflict.

These efforts in Uttar Pradesh align with broader discussions and actions regarding stray dog management across India. Recently, the Supreme Court directed authorities in Delhi to capture, sterilize, vaccinate, and permanently relocate all stray dogs to shelters within eight weeks, prohibiting their return to the streets. This order came in response to concerns about rising dog bite incidents and the court deemed the existing practice of sterilizing and releasing dogs as "unreasonable and absurd".

While some animal rights groups have welcomed the shelter initiative as a humane upgrade, others have expressed concerns about confinement and potential poor living conditions. The Supreme Court has mandated detailed daily reporting of captured dogs, shelter occupancy, and vaccine stock levels to ensure transparency and accountability.

The initiatives undertaken by the Uttar Pradesh government, particularly the mass sterilization programs, demonstrate a commitment to managing the stray dog population and mitigating the risks associated with it. By combining sterilization, vaccination, public awareness campaigns, and the establishment of ABC centers, the state is taking a multi-faceted approach to address this complex issue.