Jammu Kashmir ranks second highest in stray dogs per 1,000 people in India

August 13, 2025 by News Desk

Jammu Kashmir is facing a severe stray dog crisis, ranking second among Indian states with approximately 23 stray dogs per 1,000 people, according to government data.

Only Odisha surpasses it, with about 40 stray dogs per 1,000 people.

In contrast, several northeastern states such as Mizoram, Nagaland, and Manipur report near-zero stray dog populations, highlighting significant regional differences in stray dog density across the country.

Urban centers like Delhi and Kolkata have moderate densities of around four dogs per 1,000 people, while southern states such as Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have relatively lower densities, approximately three to four stray dogs per 1,000 people.

The rising stray dog population in Jammu Kashmir has been accompanied by a sharp increase in dog bite incidents. In 2024, the region recorded a staggering 51,027 dog bite cases, up from 34,664 in 2023 and 22,110 in 2022.

The surge continued into 2025, with 4,824 cases reported in January alone. Srinagar alone accounted for 6,519 dog bite cases between April 2023 and March 2024, the highest in a decade.

This alarming increase in dog bites has also led to a worrying rise in human rabies deaths. Jammu Kashmir reported five fatalities due to rabies in 2024, compared to four in 2023 and none in 2022.

Experts attribute the escalating crisis to inadequate sterilization and animal birth control programs, insufficient public awareness, and unchecked breeding. A survey by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation revealed there is approximately one stray dog for every 13 people in the city, with an estimated 350,000 pups born annually.

In response, the Jammu Municipal Corporation has intensified efforts to control the stray dog population. In July 2025, it opened an additional sterilization center at Chowadi and promoted responsible feeding and reporting of unsterilized dogs.

Srinagar has also stepped up sterilization and vaccination drives, with over 14,000 dogs sterilized and vaccinated between June 2023 and October 2024.