nagpur almost over 19 years after central governments order the society for prevention of cruelty to animals spca has started functioning in the district on top agenda are effective implementation of sterilization of strays curbing illegal breeding of dogs mandatory licensing of pet shops and creating mass awareness on animal welfaretwo years back toi reported that in 2001 the union government had directed all states to establish spca in each district within six months from the date of commencement of rules the societys main intention is to prevent cruelty to animals and execute welfare schemes of animal welfare board of india awbi however nagpur district had failed in doing sofollowing pressure from citizens and animal welfare groups the district administration finally formed the society which consists of 11 government and nongovernment members each nagpur is now among the few districts of the state to have a registered society in a recently held workshop state commissionerate of animal husbandry laxminarayan mishra directed the society members to initiate action against illegal pet shops operating in the citynongovernment member and animal activist karishma galani highlighted that illegal breeding of dogs is getting rampant in the city we will be creating public awareness on buying pets only from licensed shops she saidapart from this the society also aims to implement better animal birth control abc programme in the city toi has been repeatedly reporting about the increasing menace of stray dogs in the city in august 2017 the maharashtra navnirman sena mns had filed a complaint with state chief minister devendra fadnavis stating that there were over 90000 dogs in the city in october last year a pack of five stray dogs brutally injured a sevenyearold boy at bhange layout in jaitala in the last few months toi received many complaints regarding increasing stray population in many areaswhile a sterilization programme is being carried out activists pointed out that it was not done in a scientific manner abc operations should be carried out wardwise keeping in mind proper relocation of the operated dogs apart from this a city like nagpur should have at least four operation centres said galanias per the centres norms the state government has to provide adequate land and other facilities for constructing infirmaries and animal shelters to the society the members need to submit its annual report to the animal welfare board of india awbi incorporating the activities undertaken by it