Shimla MC to launch mass stray dog sterilisation drive

In a bid to address the growing stray dog menace in Shimla, the Municipal Corporation is preparing to launch a mass sterilisation drive. Municipal Commissioner Bhupinder Kumar Attri shared the plan during the corporation’s monthly general house meeting.

Attri said the civic body had recently concluded an anti-rabies vaccination campaign across all 34 wards, ensuring wide coverage of stray dogs. “On similar lines, we will now undertake sterilisation. A team of 10 doctors will be hired, with a target of sterilising nearly 50 dogs daily. Our aim is to sterilise all stray dogs in the town within 15 days,” he said. He further added that ferocious dogs will not be released back on the streets but will remain under the corporation’s care.

Responding to councillor Nisha Thakur’s query on dog feeding, Attri clarified that designated dog feeding zones have already been set up in several wards, while more are being created. However, he ruled out the possibility of placing these zones in forest areas outside residential limits. Importantly, he announced that feeding stray dogs within residential colonies would attract penalties. “A fine of Rs 5,000 or Rs 500 per day will be imposed on violators under Section 302 of the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 1994,” he said.

The meeting also touched upon civic infrastructure issues. Councillor Ram Rattan Verma raised concerns about missing yellow line parking markings in the city. In response, Attri explained that heavy rains and landslides had damaged several stretches, leading to the omission of yellow lines. He assured councillors that the markings would be restored soon.

With these measures, the corporation hopes to balance public safety, animal welfare and urban order in the hill town.