Jammu, March 27 The government estimates that more than 1.52 lakh stray dogs are present in major urban centers of Jammu and Kashmir, including 64,416 in Srinagar city, citing a survey.
Responding to a question from National Conference MLA Tanvir Sadiq in the assembly, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the portfolio of housing and urban affairs, said the figures pertain to key municipal areas across J-K.
"The estimated number of stray dogs in major urban centers of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is 1,52,775, which includes 64,416 stray dogs in Srinagar city," he said, referring to the survey conducted in 2023.
Providing details on the sterilization efforts, Abdullah said that data on stray dogs sterilized between June 2023 and September 2025 has been compiled at the district level, and that the Animal Birth Control (ABC) program is monitored through a multi-tier mechanism.
"The program is monitored through a UT Level Monitoring Committee, ULB-level committees, real-time tracking via the ABC Mobile Application, regular reporting systems, CCTV surveillance of centers, financial monitoring linked to digital records, and a grievance redressal mechanism," he said.
The chief minister, however, informed the House that no formal independent third-party evaluation of the program has been conducted so far.
He added that continuous oversight is being carried out by committees at the UT and municipal levels, including representatives from concerned departments and animal welfare organizations.
Addressing growing public safety concerns, particularly for children and elderly citizens, he said that several measures have been undertaken and proposed to manage the stray dog population humanely.
These include the expansion of ABC centers, increasing facilities in Jammu – from one to three – and setting up additional centers in Srinagar along with continuous sterilization and anti-rabies vaccination drives, he said.
Other measures listed in the reply include the establishment of designated feeding spots away from schools and crowded areas, public awareness campaigns, identification of land for dog shelters, deployment of mobile sterilization units, sanitation drives to reduce waste that attracts strays, and training of dog-catching staff, he said.
He also said that it is complying with the directions of the Supreme Court in a suo motu writ petition on stray animal management, including fencing vulnerable public spaces and appointing nodal officers.
"The government is actively implementing a structured and humane strategy for the management of stray dog population through sterilization, vaccination, infrastructure, and public safety measures," he added.