Amid a worrying rise in rabies cases and over 1.31 lakh dog bites reported this year alone, the Kerala government has announced a bold new action plan to tackle the crisis. The strategy combines sterilisation, mass vaccination, and conditional euthanasia of severely ill or contagious stray dogs.
Key to the plan is the rollout of 152 mobile Animal Birth Control (ABC) units, each costing ₹28 lakh, to be deployed across all blocks—beginning with a pilot in Nedumangad. Stray dog catchers will be incentivised with ₹300 per dog, and sterilisation will be overseen by the Indian Veterinary Association.
In August, the state will conduct a mass vaccination drive for stray dogs, followed by pet dog vaccination and licensing camps in September. More than 150 trained personnel will assist in the campaign.
Importantly, under Section 8 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Rules, 2023, stray dogs that are confirmed by a veterinary surgeon to be gravely ill, injured, or highly contagious may be humanely euthanised.
To ensure smooth implementation, the state has warned of legal action under IPC and CrPC against anyone obstructing ABC operations. Officials are also seeking Central support to revise current rules that restrict swift action.
This multifaceted initiative reflects Kerala’s commitment to curbing the rabies threat while maintaining humane standards, balancing public health and animal welfare in a time of urgent need.
