The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 have been published by the Central Government under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and have replaced the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001. In the Writ Petition No. 691 of 2009 between the Animal Welfare Board of India and the People for the Elimination of Stray Troubles, the Supreme Court’s recommendations were addressed. The Honourable Supreme Court has made it clear in several rulings that dog relocation is not authorised.
According to the current regulations, the respective local governments, municipalities, municipal corporations, and panchayats are responsible for carrying out the Animal Birth Control plan, which involves sterilising and immunising stray dogs. Additionally, the cruelty involved in producing the ABC programming must be addressed. The local authorities can carry out the Animal Birth Control plan, which will aid in lowering the number of stray dogs and resolving animal welfare issues, by effectively implementing these Rules.
The ABC and Anti Rabies Programmes must be implemented cooperatively by Municipal Corporations. The Rules also outline how to resolve disputes between stray dogs and people without moving the dogs themselves.
The Animal Birth Control Programme must be carried out by an AWBI-recognized organisation that is expressly recognised for its Animal Birth Control Programme, according to one of the rules. The list of these Organisations will be posted on the Board’s website, which will also occasionally be updated. All State Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries of the Animal Husbandry Department, and Principal Secretaries of the Urban Development Department have already received letters from the Central Government. Therefore, it is required of local bodies to carry out the Rules in letter and spirit and to not allow any organisations to carry out ABC programmes that are not approved for ABC programmes by AWBI or otherwise specified in the Rules.