Thiruvananthapuram: Local bodies in Kerala will no longer need to wait for individual government orders to carry out the euthanasia of stray dogs suffering from rabies or other serious illnesses. The move follows the Union Government's notification of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Rules, 2023, which permits mercy killing under such circumstances.

Responsibility for managing stray dog populations lies with local self-governments, as outlined in the Panchayati Raj and Municipal Acts. They can now act directly on these provisions, provided they follow World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. The Local Self-Government Department (LSGD) will only need to issue a general order allowing local bodies to use their own funds for such operations.

Mobile units to address ABC infrastructure gaps
Recognising the challenges in establishing permanent Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres across all 152 blocks, the Animal Husbandry Department will soon launch eight mobile sterilisation units, or Mobile Portable Units (MPUs), within a month.

Each unit will be a fully functional ABC facility on wheels, equipped with operating theatres, holding cages, and waste treatment systems. Of the eight MPUs in the first phase, one will be funded through CSR contributions, while the remaining seven will be financed by the Animal Husbandry Department. Local bodies will be expected to fund additional units in future phases.

Though ₹13 crore was allocated last year for setting up ABC centres, many projects have been delayed due to land and infrastructure constraints. This fund will now be redirected to support the MPU initiative. Full-scale operations are expected to begin within two months.

How MPUs will work

• Sterilisation Capacity: 6 to 10 dogs per day (up to 25 for larger units)
• Post-op Care: Dogs will be held in the unit’s recovery cages for up to a week
• Operation Mode: Units will rotate locations weekly to avoid public nuisance
• Oversight: All procedures will be supervised by the district animal husbandry officer
• Mobility: Designed for easy towing by tractors

Currently, Kerala has 15 functional ABC centres, with two nearing completion and nine more in progress.

Support from Kudumbashree and revised catcher wages
The government has revised the wage for dog-catching to ₹300, up from ₹150 earlier. This cost will be borne by local bodies. At present, 158 trained dog catchers are available, and Kudumbashree members interested in assisting will also receive training.

Vaccination and targeted drives
Vaccination drives for stray dogs are already underway. A special campaign will be conducted across all wards in August and September to intensify these efforts. Female dogs will be prioritised for sterilisation post-vaccination.

Microchipping of pet dogs delayed
Plans are in place to implant 12-digit microchips in all licensed pet dogs to track ownership, vaccination status, and licensing history. However, logistical hurdles may delay implementation. Pet owners will bear the costs, including ₹50 for vaccination and licensing, and additional charges for microchipping. The chip will be embedded at the time of licensing and will serve as a permanent identification tool for pets.