Urban Development Tackles Animal Welfare with Innovative Programs

The Uttar Pradesh Urban Development Department (UDD) is intensifying its efforts to bolster urban safety and improve animal welfare. Officials have launched a series of animal birth control and anti-rabies vaccination programs, now active across all 17 municipal corporations in the state.

In an effort to encourage responsible pet ownership and enhance community safety, the department has issued 5,333 pet dog licenses this year, as revealed in a recent statement. The animal birth control (ABC) initiative has successfully sterilized and vaccinated 2,84,641 stray dogs against rabies, with 1,25,893 sterilisations recorded in the 2023-24 period alone.

Progress continues with 17 permanent ABC centres established since April 2025, with additional centres approved for Lucknow and Ghaziabad. These initiatives are part of a broader effort, championed by UDD Principal Secretary Amrit Abhijat, to create safer, more humane urban environments. Public awareness campaigns are also underway, advising the community on safety around stray dogs and encouraging prompt reporting of aggressive or sick animals.

(With inputs from agencies.)