Stray Dogs: An Economic and Public Health Issue

The costs of large stray dog populations in India, including dog bites and rabies, and the economics of sterilisation programmes.

India has a very large population of stray dogs, estimated in the crores.

Costs

Dog bites: millions of cases are reported each year.
Rabies: India accounts for a large share of global rabies deaths, though exact numbers are uncertain.
Treatment costs for anti-rabies vaccines.
Traffic accidents caused by animals.

Why populations grow

Garbage provides food.
Feeding by residents.
Limited sterilisation.

Animal Birth Control

India’s policy relies on Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023: dogs are sterilised, vaccinated and returned to their areas, rather than culled.

Works if a high share of dogs is sterilised consistently.
Requires funding and capacity in municipalities.

Court involvement

The Supreme Court has heard cases on stray dogs, including in 2025, balancing public safety and animal welfare.

Economic view

Strays reflect externalities: waste management and feeding create costs borne by others. Effective policies need waste control, sterilisation and vaccination together.

The sterilisation drive

A city sterilises most dogs in several neighbourhoods over a few years. Their numbers stabilise, and bite complaints fall there.

Thinking removing strays is a quick fix

Without addressing food and breeding, populations return.

Key takeaways

India has a very large stray dog population.
Bites and rabies impose health and economic costs.
ABC Rules, 2023 rely on sterilisation and vaccination.
Success needs waste control and consistent sterilisation.