Maharashtra State Government Forms Committee to Tackle Human-Dog Conflict and Stray Dog Issue

Mumbai, 20th July 2023: In a bid to address the growing issue of human-dog conflict and manage the population of stray dogs in the state, the government has taken a significant step by forming a committee. The committee, led by the Principal Secretary of the Animal Husbandry Department and comprising officials from the Urban Development, Health, and Rural Development Departments, will work towards laying down a comprehensive policy.

The urban development department has already issued guidelines to local self-government bodies on handling stray dogs, and now the focus is on developing a detailed policy through the newly formed committee.
The committee’s primary task is to carefully examine the existing rules and provisions outlined in the Central Government’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and the Maharashtra Animal Protection Act, 1976. By doing so, they aim to find effective solutions to tackle the stray dog problem in the state.

One of the key objectives of the committee is to ensure that no stray dogs are left wandering on the streets. They plan to achieve this by conducting a thorough assessment of the number of stray and domestic dogs in every significant village, taluka, city, and metropolis, and subsequently registering them.

Another critical aspect the committee intends to explore is the feasibility of implementing a dog adoption scheme. This initiative could provide a humane and sustainable way to find permanent homes for stray dogs.
The committee has been given a timeline of three months to submit its comprehensive report, which will outline the recommended measures to address the human-dog conflict and manage the stray dog population effectively.

To formalize this significant step, the Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, and Fisheries Development Department have issued a detailed government order to facilitate the committee’s work.
With the formation of this committee and the impending policy, the state government aims to find a lasting solution to the human-dog conflict and ensure the well-being of both the residents and stray dogs.