Urgent Need for Animal Birth Control (ABC), Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV), and SPCA Implementation

Dear Citizens and Stakeholders,

While Bangalore Urban strives to control its street dog population through Animal Birth Control (ABC) and Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV), Bangalore Rural areas—Nelamangala, Devanahalli, Hoskote, and Dodballapur—are falling behind. Despite strong economic growth in these regions, there is a significant lack of structured animal welfare programs, impacting health, safety, and the environment.

This neglect is causing unvaccinated and unchecked rural dog populations to migrate into Bangalore, worsening the city’s animal control challenges and increasing the risk of rabies outbreaks and human-animal conflicts.

We call on the Deputy Commissioner and the administration of Bangalore Rural to:

1. Activate and Enforce ABC and ARV Programs in all four taluks, in compliance with Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) standards.
2. Form a Functional SPCA to coordinate animal welfare efforts, with immediate appointment of a single-point contact for ABC/ARV activities.
3. Remove Illegal and Harmful Practices from official communications and tender clauses, particularly those suggesting illegal culling.

Despite repeated attempts, no significant action has been taken. Citizens of Bangalore Rural, we urge you to sign this petition to demand the immediate initiation and enforcement of proper animal welfare measures.

Let’s work together to ensure that animal welfare laws are upheld, creating a safer, healthier environment for everyone.

Sign the Petition Today.

Sincerely,
CJ Memorial Trust
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Background

Bangalore tries and improve its ABC/ARV focus via BBMP and active citizens , but Bangalore Rural (Nelamangala, Devanahalli, Hoskote & Dodballapur) with its good economy and impact continue to languish on this front. This not only affects health and safety, one health etc but increasingly puts pressures on the city of Bangalore where intact, unvaccinated rural dogs push in increasing the overall population.

This is long overdue and apart from tenders for abc , and a proper functional SPCA Blr Rural, the administration has to ensure a streamlined and effective take off on animal welfare.

Our letter to the DC Bangalore Rural is below & enclosed but we are yet to see any action on this . Citizens of Bangalore Rural, please do collaborate and push this .

12 Sept 2024

Dr. Shivashankar

Deputy Commissioner, Bangalore Rural

Bangalore – 560072

Subject: Urgent Attention Required on Animal Birth Control (ABC), Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV) & SPCA Implementation in Bangalore Rural District

Dear Sir,

We write to bring to your immediate attention the critical issue of street dogs in the Bangalore Rural District. We are deeply concerned that despite legal mandates, the establishment of the SPCA for Bangalore Rural has not been properly implemented, and there appear to be no structured programs for Animal Birth Control (ABC) and Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV). Additionally, there is a lack of active contracts for the four taluks—Hoskote, Nelamangala, Doddaballapur, and Devanahalli.

Moreover, it has come to our notice that due to lack of awareness, some local panchayats may be engaging in the illegal culling or relocation of street dogs. Of particular concern is the information on your official website (https://bangalorerural.nic.in/en/gram-panchayat-role/ ) that lists the culling of stray dogs as part of panchayat duties. This is in direct violation of the law, and we request that this provision be immediately removed, staff be informed of the legal framework, and the website be updated accordingly. A copy of this communication is also being shared with the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) for their reference.

The Bangalore Rural Nelamangala tender 45215710 concerning the ABC program also unlawfully includes the culling of dogs under the clause "Tender for Implementation of Animal Birth Control (ABC)/Anti Rabies Vaccination (ARV) Programme for Stray Dogs and Euthanizing the Sick, Rabid & Rogue Dogs in a Humane Manner." We request this be urgently corrected in accordance with AWBI guidelines and the ABC Rules of 2023, which specifically prohibit such actions.

While we recognize that efforts are underway, particularly concerning tenders for the ABC/ARV programs, we urge the immediate expansion of this work to all four taluks. This can be achieved either through AHVS-recognized facilities or AWBI-accredited NGOs. The absence of these programs not only contravenes the law but also increases the risk to public safety through unchecked animal populations and rabies outbreaks, thereby escalating human-animal conflicts.

As of now, only one tender for Nelamangala has been issued, and we reiterate that including provisions for euthanizing dogs is illegal. Prompt corrective action is required. All taluks in Bangalore Rural must have proper ABC arrangements in place as soon as possible.

We further request that:

1.      The Finance Department and local AHVS be instructed to take immediate action.

2.      A single point of contact for animal welfare, specifically for ABC and ARV matters in Bangalore Rural, be appointed.

3.      Dr. Jagdish Kumar, DD Animal Husbandry (AHVS), who serves as the ex-officio Member Secretary of the SPCA for Bangalore Rural, be tasked with accelerating the SPCA's activities, including the proper appointment of SPCA members, as its current status is highly irregular.

This matter has also been discussed with the Chief Secretary and the Development Commissioner, and we respectfully urge your prompt action on this critical issue. Thank you for your attention to this pressing matter. We look forward to your immediate response and remedial action under your leadership.

 

Sincerely,

 

Trustee

CJ Memorial Trust 

CC: Ms. Shalini Rajneesh, Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka

CC: Ms. Uma Mahadevan, Development Commissioner & ACS RDPR

CC: Dr. Anuradha, CEO Bangalore Rural Zilla, ceo_zt_brur@nic.in

CC: Dr SK Dutta, Member Secretary AWBI