The document proposes a rabies control program in India through mass vaccination and sterilization of street dogs. It summarizes the success of existing animal birth control (ABC) and anti-rabies (AR) programs in reducing rabies cases in cities like Chennai, Jaipur, and Kalimpong. The proposed 12th plan program would target 3 cities - Gurgaon, Chennai, and Gangtok - through vaccinating 70% of street and pet dogs and sterilizing 70% of street dogs. A budget of 30 crore rupees over 4 years is proposed to implement the program through activities like sensitization, surveys, vaccinations, sterilizations, awareness campaigns, and monitoring. The conclusion

1. i) Impact of Animal Birth Control / Anti Rabies Immunization programme
facilitated by AWBI for Stray Dogs in controlling Rabies
ii) Proposal for implementing the Animal component of the National
Rabies Control Programme under 12th Plan in collaboration with NCDC
(Ministry of Health)
Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Dr. R. M. Kharb, AVSM
1
Chairman, Animal Welfare Board of India

2. Mandate of Animal Welfare Board
of India
Ministry of Environment and Forests
Advisory and Statutory body to Govt. of
India on all matters affecting animal
welfare issues, policies & laws
Providing Financial
assistance to NGOs / AWOs,
SPCAs & Gaushalas for
Animal Welfare
Programmes
Protection of Animals from cruelty by facilitating
implementation of PCA Act 1960 and Rules made
thereunder all over India 2

3. Stray dog population & Rabies Control
Programme implemented according to
Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rule 2001
Over 150000 stray dogs sterilized
& vaccinated yearly
Incidence of rabies has come down in many metros
after implementation of ABC/AR Programme.
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4. Animal Birth Control and Immunization
Programme for Street Dogs
• The concept of Animal Birth Control &
Rabies Immunization of street dogs is a
humane and proven scientific method of
controlling their population and Rabies. It
also contributes to an improvement in the
welfare of stray dogs.
• WHO has endorsed this concept. Several
countries have stabilized street dog
population and controlled Rabies by
adopting intensive ABC/AR Programme.
• Street dogs are subjected to abusive
treatment because of wide spread wrong
belief that all street dogs carry Rabies virus.
4

5. Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules
notified in 2001 under PCA Act 1960
• Classifies dogs into two categories
a) Pet Dogs – Pet owners responsible for
controlled breeding, immunization,
sterilization and licensing.
b) Street Dogs – Shall be sterilized and
immunized by participation of NGOs / Animal
Welfare Organizations, private individuals
and Local Authorities.
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6. Sterilization, Immunization and Release
• Captured street dogs are transported to NGO / AWOs
shelters, given health checks on arrival, sick / injured dogs
are segregated and treated.
• Healthy dogs are sterilized and vaccinated as per the
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of AWBI.
• Right Ear of the sterilized dogs is notched as an
identification mark.
• After post operative care of 3-5 days, sterilized and
vaccinated dogs are released back at the same place.
• Pregnant female dogs are not sterilized.
• The genital organs of the operated dogs are kept, preserved
in 10% formal saline for counting and destruction every
month by a designated team.
• During mass anti rabies vaccination by NGOs, vaccinated
dogs are marked by a bright pink spray on the body.
6

7. Contribution of AWBI in Stabilizing Street
Dog Population and controlling Rabies
• AWBI acts as a facilitator for implementation of the ABC/AR
programme in the country.
• AWBI is the only agency which promotes this programme at
National level with the help of NGOs, SPCAs & Local
Authorities (approx. 122 in number) which helps in
controlling the incidence of Rabies and population of stray
dogs.
• Over 1,50,000 stray / community dogs are being sterilized
and immunized every year under ABC/AR Programme
facilitated by AWBI.
• The ABC/AR Programme has significantly reduced the
incidence of dog bites and Rabies in several metros where
the programme has been implemented in an intensive
manner.
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8. • The technical implementation of ABC/AR Programme
has been harmonized through a state of art SOP
compiled by AWBI for guidance of NGOs / AWOs.
• AWBI is also facilitating conduct of three training
programmes i.e. at Jaipur, Ooty and Gangtok to
upgrade the skills of Veterinarians, Paravets, Dog
Catchers and Programme Managers from NGOs, Civic
Bodies and Animal Husbandry Dept. These training
programmes are being conducted with the help of
International NGOs i.e. Vets Beyond Borders, Humane
Society International and Worldwide Veterinary
Services. Over 500 Veterinarians, Paravets and Dog
Catchers have so far been trained at these training
centers.
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9. • Impact of ABC/AR Programme:-
• Incidence of human rabies has
considerably declined consequent to
successful implementation of AWBI’s
Animal Birth Control / Anti Rabies
(ABC/AR) programme in several metros
such as Chennai, Jaipur, Kalimpong,
Gangtok and Delhi. Chennai and Jaipur
are now zero rabies cities.
9

10. Graphic representation showing reduction in
120
120 incidence of human Rabies deaths
107
100
NO. OF RABIES
80
DEATHS
60
44
40 35
24
17 16
20
5 5
0
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
CHENNAI
Graph showing reduction of Rabies consequent to start of ABC/AR
Programme 10

11. ABC / AR STARTED IN MARCH '96
12
10 10
10
NO. OF RABIES DEATHS
9
8
8 7
6 5
4 3
2
2 1
0 0 0 0
0
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
00
01
02
03
04
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
19
20
20
20
20
20
JAIPUR- WALLED CITY
11

12. •
ABC / AR STARTED IN 2000
10
10
NO. OF RABIES DEATHS
8
6 5
4
2
0
0
2000 2001 2002
KALIMPONG
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13. Indicators of a successful
ABC/AR Programme
• Marked reduction in the number of dog bites as
sterilized dogs are less aggressive.
• Marked reduction in the number of puppies on
the streets.
• Reduction in the incidence of human as well as
animal Rabies.
• Reduction in the number of complaints of dog
nuisance on the helpline.
• Reduction in the number of dog fights specially
during the breeding season.
• Gradual reduction in the number of street dogs.
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14. II. Proposal for implementation
of Animal Component for
12th Plan Rabies Control
Programme in collaboration
with NCDC
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15. AIM
• To control incidence of human & animal Rabies
in pilot project covering 3 cities by mass
vaccination (70% of their population) of Pet and
Street dogs.
• To control the over population of street dogs in 3
cities through mass sterilization (at least 70% of
population).
• Appreciable reduction in the number of Dog
bites due to reduction of aggressive behaviour of
street dogs as a result of neutering / sterilization.
• Marked reduction in Man-Dog conflict and abuse
of stray dogs due to Rabies tag.
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16. Main Components of Project and Budgetary outlay
1. Conducting sensitization workshops with
stake holders and public (4 years) - 10 Lacs
2. Census survey of population of street cities
& pet dogs - 2 Lacs
3. Mass Vaccinations - 14.10 Crores
4. Mass Sterilizations - 13.23 Crores
5. Awareness and outreach, material, travel -0.50 Crores
Responsible pet ownership ( compulsory licensing by
Civic bodies), Publication of literature, communication,
framing and upgrading legislation
6. Serosurveillance - 0.10 Crores
and augmenting diagnostic laboratory capacity,
population monitoring, database
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17. 7. Project management - 0.20 Crores
Traveling / monitoring, coordination of project
8. Manpower - 1.75 Crores
Project Coordinator - One
Veterinarians - Three
Vaccinators/Paravets - Nine
Dog Catchers - Twelve
-----------------------------------------------------------
Total: Rs.30.00 Crores
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18. Names of the 3 cities
1. Gurgaon
2. Chennai
3. Gangtok
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19. CONCLUSION
• Mass immunization of Street Dogs against Rabies
on a sustainable basis and their intensive
sterilization holds the key to control and eradicate
Rabies from India.
• Human beings and animals in India will continue to
suffer from this dreaded disease if we ignore the
importance of mass immunization and sterilization
of stray and pet dogs.
• At present “Rabies Free India is a vision – a dream”
which can be translated into reality provided there
is commitment, resources and political will.
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20. THANK YOU
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