What are the ABC Rules for stray dog management?

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By Ravi RathiFeb 2, 2026

The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, or ABC Rules, 2023, are a set of instructions on how to manage the free-roaming community dog population in India. It is a humane set of rules that tries to safeguard the rights of the voiceless animals, mitigate the conflict between humans & community dogs and prevent dog bites and Rabies cases. In March 2023, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, released the ABC Rules, 2023, replacing the outdated Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001. The Rules were notified under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

The ABC programme ensures the implementation of the Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (CNVR) policy for community dogs. This not only aims to reduce the number of community dogs but also prevent various diseases, such as reproductive cancers, rabies, and other infectious diseases among dogs through sterilisation and vaccination. It also releases dogs back to their own neighbourhoods after sterilisation and vaccination to avoid unnecessary stress and displacement of dogs.

The CNVR technique evolved over decades due to the pioneering work of organisations like the Soi Dog Foundation in Thailand, Tsunami Animal-People Alliance (TAPA) in Sri Lanka, the Humane World for Animals in the US and many others. It is widely recognised as the most humane approach to managing stray dog populations and has shown great success when implemented properly.

What do the ABC Rules say?

On responsibility for vaccination and sterilisation

Pet vaccination: The ABC Rules place the responsibility of vaccination of pet animals on the owner.
Street dog vaccination: For community dogs, local authorities are responsible for deworming, vaccination and sterilisation. If required, they may employ an Animal Welfare Organisation (AWO) to carry out the animal birth control programme in accordance with the rules. The AWO must be recognised by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI).

On obligations of the local authority

ABC centre facilities: Local authorities must ensure that every Animal Birth Control (ABC) Centre has adequate kennels, veterinary hospitals, specially-modified vans, mobile Operation Theatre (OT) vans with full surgical infrastructure, incinerators for safe carcass disposal, CCTV surveillance, proper records of activities, and smooth reimbursement policies for AWOs. An ABC centre must also have enough space to keep dogs and allow them free movement. The centre must be well-ventilated, clean and have natural lighting.
Monitoring: The authorities must monitor that the centres are regularly repaired, cleaned, and maintained. The Local Animal Birth Control Monitoring Committee has to also be formed by them and meet once a month for review of operations.
Investigation of complaints: Complaints regarding violations at ABC centres must be investigated by the local authorities.
SPV projects: Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) may be used by local authorities to implement ABC programmes. The local bodies must ensure that all the SPV staff (veterinarians, handlers, drivers, and paraveterinarians) are properly trained and follow the rules. The project in-charge must be a person independent of the SPV and has to be appointed by the local body.

On capturing, sterilisation, immunisation and release

Reasons for capture: Street dogs may only be captured for general population control through neutering and if there are specific complaints of dog bites by street dogs who are suspected to have rabies. For dog bite complaints, an Animal Complaint Cell must be set up at the ABC Centre.
Dog capturing team: Dog capturing teams should have one van driver, two or more people from the local body or AWO who are trained in humane capturing of dogs, and one AWO representative. All must carry ID cards issued by the local body.
Pre-capture process: Before capturing operations begin in any locality, banners and notices must be put up. Announcements talking about the ABC programme and seeking public cooperation must also be done to educate residents.
Dog capturing method: Dogs must be captured in a humane manner using minimally-stressful methods. Use of tongs or wire is not allowed.
Dog capturing capacity: Captures must be limited to the maximum number of dogs that an ABC centre can house. Pickups must be done one locality at a time. Mixing of different areas of dogs is to be avoided.
Record maintenance: A numbered collar must be given to each dog after arrival at the centre. This will link back to their capture records and ensure that the dogs are released back to the same locality that they were picked from after neutering and vaccinating them.
Age of capture: Dogs below 6 months of age and female dogs with puppies who are less than 2 months old will not be captured for sterilisation.
Post-capture process: After capture, dogs must be taken to an AWBI-certified ABC Centre. Here, they must be checked, and healthy dogs must be separated from sick dogs. The sick dogs must be treated and sterilised only after they recover.
Kennel dimensions: Kennels must be clearly marked and at least 3 X 4 X 6 ft in size. In group kennels, each dog must have a minimum of 3 X 4 ft of floor space. Kennels must have adequate roofing to protect from weather, high bar doors/gates, good ventilation, resting area, and good drainage system.
Dog grouping: Dogs from the same family or social group can be housed together, although male and female dogs must be separated. Before surgery, dogs must be kept in quarantine kennels for 12 hours without food or water.
Neutering procedure: Surgery must be conducted by a vet under the supervision of jurisdictional veterinary officers. The operation theatre must be well-equipped and follow AWBI-approved surgical protocols.
Dog identification: Dogs must not be branded. A small ‘V’-shaped notch must be made on the right ear after sterilisation to indicate that the dog has been sterilised and immunised.
Post-surgery care: After surgery, dogs must be kept in the shelter for recovery for at least 4 days post-surgery. Nutritious food must be given twice daily, and clean drinking water should be provided at all times.
Post-surgery release: After recovery, dogs must be returned to the exact location from where they were taken. The AWBI may introduce a geo-tagging application for records. The release team must have a representative of the local authority or AWO. All records related to date, time and place of release must be maintained.
Rules and regulations: SOPs issued by the AWBI in the Module, as updated from time to time, must be followed to ensure safe and humane surgeries.

On Euthanasia of Street Dogs

Reasons: Euthanasia can be done to only incurably ill or mortally wounded dogs. This must be diagnosed by a team appointed by the Local Animal Birth Control Monitoring Committee.
Method: The euthanasia must be done in a humane way using intravenous sodium pentobarbital or any other approved humane method by a qualified veterinarian. It should also be done during specific hours.
Diagnosis: The diagnosing/euthanasia team must have a Jurisdictional Veterinary Officer, a Project In-Charge, and a representative of the AWBI or State Board.
Process: Euthanasia must not be done in the presence of other dogs. After the procedure, the vet must confirm death before disposal.
Records: Detailed records must be maintained on the euthanasia, including the reason for the recommendation. These records must then be signed by the entire team.

On resolution of complaints regarding dog bites or rabid dogs

Helpline: An animal helpline must be established by the local authorities. The AWO or the Project In-charge will be responsible for recording and resolving conflicts.
Complaint records: A permanent register with records must be kept when a complaint is received.
Information sharing: Any information about dog bites must be shared with the Government Medical Hospital for treatment.
Humane capturing: Capturing must be done humanely, and the dog must be then kept under observation at the ABC Centre. Dogs showing communicable diseases must be put in an isolation kennel, as per veterinary advice. They must be given food and water twice daily in isolation as well.
Rabies inspection: Dogs that are suspected of rabies must be examined by a 2-member inspection team with one veterinary surgeon and one representative of the AWO.
Aggressive/rabid dogs: If a dog is found to have a high probability of rabies, it must be isolated till natural death, which usually happens within around 10 days of contracting rabies. If it’s a different disease, or if the dog is aggressive, then the dog should be handed over to the AWO, treated and observed for 10 days, and released after observation and recovery.
Disposal: Carcasses of dogs suspected of rabies should be disposed of in an incinerator or by other methods approved by the District Chief Veterinary Officer.
Reimbursement: If an AWO is implementing the ABC programme, costs for observation, housing, and treatment must be reimbursed by the local authority. The rates of service shall be determined by the Local Animal Birth Control Monitoring Committee.
Public awareness: For public sensitisation, local authorities must display awareness material given by the AWBI at prominent locations of cities.

On Feeding of Community Animals

Feeding arrangements: The Resident Welfare Association (RWA), Apartment Owner Association (AOA), or Local Body representative of the area must make arrangements for feeding community animals in coordination with residents who currently feed or want to feed them.
Feeding spots: The RWA/AOA/local body must designate feeding spots after talking to all stakeholders, keeping in mind the number of dogs and their territorial behaviour. High traffic areas that are frequented by children and senior citizens, exit and entry points, staircases, etc. must be avoided.
Feeding time: Associations must fix feeding times depending on the movement of people and activities. They must ensure that feeders follow all rules and do not litter. They should also give permission to designated feeders to volunteer in the implementation of the ABC programme.
Disputes committee: An Animal Welfare Committee must be created in case there are disputes between RWA/AOA and animal caregivers or residents. Animal Welfare Committee must consist of Chief Veterinary Officer or nominee, Jurisdictional Police representative, Representative of the District SPCA or State Board, Representative of a recognised Animal Welfare Organisation implementing ABC, Veterinary Officer deputed by the local authority, the complainant, Representative of the RWA/AOA/local body of the area.
Feeding decisions: The Committee’s decision of feeding points is final at the local level. It must also nominate a feeder from among AWBI-designated colony caretakers to feed animals in the neighbourhood.
Appeals: If there are any disputes between the parties, the aggrieved party may appeal to the State Board. The Board’s decision will be final at the local level.

Why are the ABC Rules important for stray dog management?

The street dog population should continue to go down till there are no strays left in India anymore. This is the end goal for everyone: those who are inconvenienced by them as well as those who love them. Why? Because life is hard, unpredictable and ultimately stressful on the streets. They are threatened, beaten, and injured daily by humans, and sometimes even brutally killed.

But just removing them from the streets is not the point. The core principle of the ABC programme is to reduce the number of dogs on the streets in a humane way, which is what makes it so important. Here is when CNVR comes into play:

Catch: The ABC Rules advocate that dogs are caught in a humane and systematic way. No tongs, barbs, or wires must be used, and no dog must be injured in the process. Usually nets are used to catch the dog without hurting them.

Neuter: When dogs are sterilised systematically, fewer puppies are born each year. Their population keeps declining, and, in a decade or so, the strays cease to exist through a natural and compassionate process. Those who are left get a larger share of resources, and shelters are also better able to care for them.

Vaccinate: Dogs are dewormed and vaccinated against Rabies under the ABC programme. They are also checked thoroughly to see if they may have any other illnesses. The programme targets a 70% vaccination rate so that herd immunity can kick in. This aims to protect both the dogs and humans from Rabies.

Release: This is probably the most important tenet of the ABC programme. The dogs are released exactly where they were caught from after neutering and vaccination. This is because dogs are territorial beings. They have a conception of home and family. Permanent entrapment in shelters causes them unimaginable distress, with many developing major behavioural changes like aggression and disorientation. All this notwithstanding the fights that occur for space and resources, the diseases that spread, and the lives that are lost in cramped, ill-equipped shelters. This is why they are released back into their neighbourhoods.

Where have the ABC Rules seen a positive impact on stray dog management?

The Netherlands: The Netherlands has eradicated stray dogs through CNVR, strict laws related to pets, high tax on buying purebred dogs to encourage adoption and massive public awareness programmes.

Thailand: The Soi Dog Foundation has worked tirelessly in Thailand’s Phuket to neuter and vaccinate over a million dogs. This has helped the country make large strides towards rabies-free status.

Bhutan: Bhutan has achieved 100% sterilisation and vaccination of its stray dogs because of its public awareness policies, integration of animal welfare into public health measures and by involving communities.

Brazil: São Paulo has seen a major drop in stray dog population because of a combination of sterilisation, vaccination, and adoption programmes. Public awareness drives on pet ownership and its responsibilities have also helped.

In fact, many places in India have also achieved notable results, in spite of the circumstances: Goa, Jaipur, Chennai, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Ooty, Sikkim, etc.

What are the challenges in implementing the ABC Rules in India?

The implementation of the ABC Rules in India has fallen absolutely flat, and these are some of the reasons why:

No census: The last livestock census that we have is from 2019, and the total population of stray dogs and stray cattle in the country was more than 2 crore back then. But that was 7 years ago. No one knows how many stray dogs are on the streets currently, so every calculation, be it the number of shelters, amount of land required, feeding budget, etc. would be wrong.

Lack of shelters: Even though the correct number of stray dogs is not known, what is known, beyond any doubt, is that there are not enough shelters to hold them. The construction of new shelters is also a distant dream. As per the AWBI, there are only 76 sterilisation centres recognised by them.

Absence of monitoring: The State-wise affidavits in the recent hearing on the stray dog management case under the Supreme Court show that the ABC programmes, which have been running for years, have actually not been running at all. From the vaguest of data to the most dismal of numbers, these clearly show no monitoring of operations is happening.

Rampant corruption: This, of course, is the root cause of all obstacles faced by the ABC programme in India: no comprehensive data on where the funds allocated for the programme went and where they were used. For example, Tamil Nadu allocated Rs 20 crore to strengthen their ABC programme, according to their 2025 Budget. On 29 Jan, 2026, the Tamil Nadu affidavit that was read in the Supreme Court said that there was no fully functional government animal shelter.

Clearly, something is amiss with the ABC programme in India. All the rules have been laid down, resources have been allocated, but there is a drastic lack of implementation. Who ends up paying the price? Community dogs.