MUMBAI: Flagging the rising population of stray dogs, Bombay high court on Friday asked the State govt to “aggressively” implement the animal birth control programme.“Instead of trying to catch hold of the growing number of (stray) dogs, you have to catch hold of the adult dogs so that it is ensured that they are sterilised… If you stop the growth, rest all falls in line,’ said Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam.The court was hearing a suo motu petition following the Supreme Court’s May 19 judgment . The apex court had refused the pleas of animal lovers and animal rights groups to stay its order for removal of stray dogs from public institutions including hospitals, schools and colleges. SC had directed HCs to register a suo motu case to monitor the implementation of its order by state and union territory governments and ensure compliance within their jurisdiction.During the hearing, the judges said the State administration must realise that if it implements the ABC programme aggressively, there will be no growth of stray dogs. “If every dog is sterilised through the ABC programme, there can be no procreation,’’ said Justice Ghuge.The judges also emphasised the need to catch hold of adult dogs. “ If there is no birth of puppies later, then you are nipping the disease in the bud. Otherwise …you will start trying to find out what is to be done about stray dogs, anti-rabies, this, that,” said Justice Ghuge.He gave the example of Aurangabad High Court saying after sterilising dogs, “you will find hardly 3 to 4 dogs.” The judges said if the population growth of dogs is stopped, other tasks ease. “But if the population is growing, your problems are growing. You have to basically concentrate on the ABC programme. Once that is vigorously implemented, there is no further growth of dogs,’’ Justice Ghuge added.The State’s advocate O A Chandurkar said State’s affidavit mentions ABC programme. The judges granted him time to place on record further compliance affidavit and adjourned the hearing to September 11.
