LUCKNOW, Uttar Pradesh—In a major step toward humane and effective street dog population management, the Lucknow Municipal Corporation and Humane World for Animals India (formerly called Humane Society International India) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to run a dedicated training center for Animal Birth Control programs in Jarhara, Lucknow.
This first-of-its-kind center in Lucknow will serve as a training hub for veterinarians, para-veterinarians, animal handlers, and animal welfare organizations across India, engaged in or preparing to begin street dog ABC work. While there are existing programs that offer training focused on surgical aspects of ABC, this will be the first in the country to comprehensively cover all aspects of ABC. The 15-day training modules will integrate both theoretical and hands-on modules, covering key areas such as humane dog catching, pre-operative assessments, anesthesia protocols, sterilization techniques, post-operative care, kennel management, data recording and reporting, supervision, legal compliance and community engagement strategies.
In light of the Honorable Supreme Court’s August 2025 ruling that reinforced the importance of ABC programs as part of a holistic approach, the new center represents a timely and much-needed contribution. It will directly strengthen efforts to build capacity, promote humane practices and ensure that ABC programs across India are conducted in a lawful, ethical, effective and standardized manner in line with India’s Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 and global standards.
There are an estimated 75 million street and community dogs across India who face daily risks such as early puppy mortality, disease, traffic injuries, malnutrition and direct persecution. Properly conducted ABC and vaccination programs not only help to improve dog welfare but also foster community harmony by humanely and sustainably reducing the roaming dog population. The goal is to sterilize at least 80% of the dog population in each area, returning sterilized dogs to their street territories to prevent unsterilized dogs from other areas moving in. Effective ABC combined with vaccination thereby creates stable but reduced, sterilized and healthy dog populations.
Under the terms of the three-year MoU, Humane World for Animals India will design and deliver the training programs through expert-led modules while LMC will provide infrastructure, vehicles and utilities.
Dr. Piyush Patel, director of Humane World for Animals India’s companion animals and engagement team, said: “Animal Birth Control is at the heart of safely and sustainably managing street dog populations across India, for the benefit of people and the dogs they live alongside. The Lucknow center will provide the hands-on, practical training needed not just in performing the sterilization surgeries but in doing this work humanely and to a high standard. We hope this becomes a space where teams from across the country can learn, share and take new skills back to their towns and cities to promote high quality ABC and foster harmonious coexistence between street dogs and people."
Dr. Abhinav Verma, animal welfare officer, LMC, said: "This training center reflects our commitment to humane, effective and well-coordinated street dog management in Lucknow. It will help build skilled professionals and ensure ABC programs are carried out to the highest welfare standards.”
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