Vadodara: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) is set to begin a fresh census of stray dogs across the city after nearly 12 years, following directions from the Gujarat government. The survey aims to determine whether the city’s stray dog population has increased or declined despite years of sterilisation drives.

The civic body plans to conduct the survey using GPS and Google mapping technology, with teams visiting different parts of the city to record the location and details of stray dogs. Officials said the exercise will collect data on the number of male and female dogs, puppies below six months of age, adults, and breed-wise distribution.

The last stray dog census in Vadodara was carried out in 2014, when the city recorded around 44,000 stray dogs. At the time, sterilisation efforts mainly focused on female dogs. Since 2015, the corporation has expanded the programme to include male dogs as well.

The fresh census is expected to reveal whether years of sterilisation campaigns have helped reduce the stray dog population or whether the numbers have continued to rise.

According to reports, around 10 employees are expected to carry out the survey and complete the exercise in approximately 20 days. However, concerns have been raised over the feasibility of covering the entire city within such a short period, as teams will need to visit every locality and street.

The upcoming survey is expected to provide updated data that could help authorities plan future measures to manage the stray dog population and address public concerns. DeshGujarat