Dhanbad: In the wake of rising concerns over stray dog attacks and rabies prevention, the Dhanbad Municipal Corporation has intensified the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme across the city. The initiative aims to control the growing population of stray dogs, reduce dog bite incidents and ensure effective rabies eradication measures in urban areas.Municipal commissioner Ashish Gangwar said that the civic body is making proper arrangements for shelter homes, treatment and care of stray dogs under the programme. He stated that coordination is being maintained with concerned departments and associated agencies to ensure smooth and effective execution of the campaign.Taking cognisance of a dog attack incident reported by The Times of India on May 3 — Stray dogs maul five-year-old boy to death in Dhanbad — the state govt asked the district administration to implement preventive measures.The municipal corporation has also clarified that dog feeding will only be permitted at designated “feeding zones” identified by the administration. Feeding stray dogs outside these notified zones may invite legal action under the provisions of the Jharkhand Municipal Act, 2011. Officials said special emphasis is being laid on maintaining cleanliness and proper management at these feeding points.According to veterinarian Dr Deepanjali Marandi, nearly 21,046 stray dogs have been sterilised and vaccinated with Anti -Rabies Vaccine (ARV) by the corporation in last two years.She said that the sterilisation, vaccination and treatment of stray dogs are being conducted in accordance with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, and the prescribed Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). After treatment and vaccination, the dogs are safely released back to their original locations.To reduce dog bite incidents, the civic body has strengthened the Post Bite Anti -Rabies Vaccination system, while preventive anti-rabies vaccination drives are also being carried out regularly. According to doctor Dr Marandi, a total of 55 locations across the municipal area have been officially notified as Feeding Zones for systematic stray dog management.The issue recently came into sharp focus after the death of five 5-year-old Ankit Yadav from the Baseriya area of Dhanbad. The child was reportedly attacked by a pack of stray dogs while playing on May 2 and later succumbed during treatment. Following media reports on the incident, the state the govt on May 13 directed the district administration to take necessary measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future.
