Jammu and Kashmir has recorded a staggering 2,12,968 cases of dog bites between 2022 and 2025, with the Jammu and Srinagar districts accounting for the highest number of cases. This was informed by the Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday in the Legislative Assembly .
Replying to a question raised by MLA Mubarak Gul, the Minister for Housing and Urban Development Department said that 212,968 people were bitten by dogs during the said period.The minister also informed the House that a total of 48,998 stray dogs have been sterilized under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) program since September 2023.
The minister added that the sterilization drives were being carried out in coordination with municipal bodies and animal welfare organizations to control the stray dog population, particularly in urban areas of Srinagar and Jammu, where most bite incidents have been recorded.
In Srinagar, authorities sterilized and vaccinated over 14,000 dogs between June 2023 and October 2024, while the Jammu Municipal Corporation reported more than 17,000 similar procedures up to mid-2023. Despite the ongoing efforts, government acknowledged challenges such as limited facilities, a shortage of trained staff, and the need for better coordination between civic bodies and animal welfare groups.
Data assessing the long-term impact of the ABC program on dog bite reduction is yet to be consolidated. The program, supported by the Animal Welfare Board of India and executed through local urban bodies, seeks to address the stray dog population through humane and scientific measures rather than culling.The government informed that a total of 48,998 stray dogs have been sterilized and vaccinated between June 2023 and September 2025.
The sterilization drives were carried out by Jammu Municipal Corporation (13,730 dogs), Srinagar Municipal Corporation (27,237), Urban Local Bodies Kashmir (161), and Urban Local Bodies Jammu (7,870).To control the growing population of stray dogs, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has launched a comprehensive sterilization and immunization drive under the Animal Birth Control and Anti-Rabies Vaccination Programme, in line with the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023. The initiative is being implemented with the guidance of the Animal Welfare Board of India.
In addition to field operations, the Corporation has intensified public awareness campaigns to prevent dog bites and promote responsible handling of street dogs. Around 25,000 posters have been distributed across Srinagar, and awareness messages are being broadcast through local media and waste collection vehicles. Advisory notices listing “Dos and Don’ts” to avoid dog bites have also been issued for the public.
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