The Solan Municipal Corporation (MC) in Himachal Pradesh has yet to register its sole animal birth control centre with the Animal Welfare Board of India, despite numerous reminders from the Animal Husbandry Department. This failure to comply with mandatory regulations raises concerns about the centre’s operational legitimacy and adherence to welfare standards.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the Central Government’s norms, as stipulated by the Animal Welfare Board of India, mandate obtaining a certificate of project recognition before commencing any animal birth control activities. The Directorate of Animal Husbandry had issued specific directions to the Urban Development Department in September 2025, emphasizing that all urban local bodies must ensure strict adherence to these norms, including centre registration.
The Deputy Director of the Animal Husbandry Department in Solan, Vivek Lamba, stated that the Solan MC has been repeatedly informed of these directives. However, the civic body has made minimal progress toward registering the animal birth control centre.
Lamba further noted that due to the urgent need to sterilise stray dogs, the department regularly deputes a team of veterinary doctors from the district to perform surgeries. He expressed disappointment with the municipal staff’s lack of a professional approach in managing the centre’s operations. The ad hoc manner in which the animal birth control centre is being run has led to significant operational shortcomings.
According to department officials, attendants assigned to the centre frequently arrive late on designated workdays. This tardiness forces the veterinary team to conduct surgeries hastily, compromising efficiency and potentially animal welfare. Furthermore, attendants have been observed leaving the centre mid-procedure, resulting in an unorganised workflow where dogs remain unattended, even on operating tables.
In instances of staff shortages, surgeons have reportedly been compelled to shift animals themselves post-surgery. This casual approach by the municipal staff is also evident in the inadequate cleaning and disinfection of the operating theatre and kennels. The centre also fails to provide advance notification regarding the exact number of dogs scheduled for operation, which disrupts the coordination of external veterinary staff who are engaged for these procedures.
Frequent requests for rescheduling surgeries have been reported, which not only impacts the animal birth control program but also affects the routine departmental work of the veterinary teams. With the onset of winter, there is a critical need for proper floor insulation and bedding for the animals. Failure to provide these essential measures for dogs exposed to cold and wet surfaces could lead to post-operative complications.
Officials from the Animal Husbandry Department have voiced these concerns on multiple occasions, yet the Municipal Corporation staff have not yet adopted a professional approach towards the sterilization of dogs. This situation places additional strain on the veterinary doctors who are already undertaking these surgeries outside their regular duties.
The Chenab Times News Desk
