Sun Apr 20 13:19:36 UTC 2025: ## Kottayam to Tackle Stray Dog Menace with New Sterilization Centers

**KOTTAYAM, Kerala, April 20, 2025** – The Kottayam district administration is launching a major initiative to address the growing stray dog problem by establishing five new Animal Birth Control (ABC) centers. The move, spurred by public concern over the stray dog menace, follows a directive from the district planning committee (DPC) mandating all panchayats to allocate ₹9 to ₹13 lakh for the project.

The new centers, a joint venture between the three-tier panchayats and the district Animal Husbandry Department, will be located in Vazhoor, Thalayolaparambu, Udayanapuram, Pala, and Vakathanam. This will bring the total number of ABC centers in the district to six, aiming for at least one center per two block panchayats. Land has already been secured or is being processed for four of the five new locations.

The initiative aims to sterilize the entire stray dog population within a year. The existing Kodimatha center, operational since 2023, has already sterilized 1,732 dogs. However, Dr. Manoj Kumar P. K., district Animal Husbandry officer, acknowledged public resistance in some areas due to misconceptions about the centers. He emphasized that the centers will adhere strictly to Animal Welfare Board of India guidelines, with sterilized dogs released only to their original capture locations.

A previous attempt to establish an ABC center in each block panchayat two years ago failed due to financial constraints. The current plan represents a revised, more financially feasible approach to tackling the growing problem.

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