The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) finally started a stray dog and domestic animal census on January 16, after a one-year delay. The BMC will also, for the first time, count the number of pet dogs and their breeds in order to determine precisely what kinds of dogs people often own.
The civic body finally started a stray dog and domestic animal census on January 16, after a one-year delay. The BMC will also, for the first time, count the number of pet dogs and their breeds in order to determine precisely what kinds of dogs people often own.
The Youth Organisation in Defence of Animals, Zimax Tech Solutions, and Humane Society International have all collaborated with the civic body to carry out a dog census. A prior research project on domestic animals and stray canines was carried out in Mumbai in 2014. Humane Society International will conduct surveys of stray canines, and Zimax Tech Solutions and the Youth Organisation in Defence of Animals will survey pets.
This survey will determine how many pets and stray dogs there are in Mumbai at present. Additionally, a comparison with the 2014 data will be made. As a result, in places where the number of stray dogs has increased, animal welfare agencies will assist in planning birth control campaigns and will be implementing any necessary measures.
Dr. Kalimpasha Pathan, general manager of Deonar Abattoir, said that the findings of this survey will enable necessary steps for improvement in taking care of dogs. Additionally, the pet survey will reveal the types of pets people keep at their homes. This revelation will shed light on pet registration and the health status of the pets in the city.
Based on census data, there were around 95,127 stray dogs in Mumbai in 2014. According to BMC authorities, the number may have nearly doubled at this point. 25,935 of the 95,174 stray dogs were discovered to be unsterilised. 11,261 of them were female dogs, and 14,674 of them were male dogs.
Unsterilised female dogs can give birth to at least four puppies, and they become reproductive within a year. As a result, the canine population has grown dramatically. Present estimates place the number of dogs in the city at 1.64 lakh. But the true picture can be shown only by conducting a census.
A dog census is crucial for determining the total number of dogs as well as their male-to-female ratio, local population, and potential for vaccination and sterilisation. All of this aids in reducing the number of dogs, dog bite cases, and additional health problems for people.
Since 2018, the municipal organisation has vaccinated about 90,000 stray dogs. An average of 60,000 dog bite instances are reported to the city each year.
Maharashtra reported the maximum number of dog bite cases in 2023, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The data shared by the ministry shows that in 2023, the state reported 4,35,136 cases of dog bites, compared to 3,90,868 cases in 2022. There has been a spike of 11.32% in cases of dog bites in 2023.
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