If you thought the population explosion was limited to the human race alone, then have a look at the latest figures of the "dog census', which reveal that there are 5.85 lakh dogs in Punjab, of which 2.65 lakh are stray. However, the state government seems to have finally woken up to the menace of stray dogs after numerous cases of dog bite were reported. Two children were even killed by stray dogs last year in Amritsar. The government has now decided to sterilise and vaccinate stray dogs across the state with the help of a Gujarat-based NGO. "As per the 2003 census, the total dog population in the state was about five lakh, which included 1.18 lakh stray dogs. As per the latest census, the total population is 5.83 lakh, of which 2.65 lakh are stray dogs. Evidently, there has been a substantial increase in the stray dog population over the last five years,'' said B.S. Sidhu, director, Animal Husbandry, Punjab. "These dogs not only attack young children and old people, but even adults, causing severe injuries and even deaths. The problem is equally serious in big cities, towns and villages,'' he added. "Under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme, which will be launched across the state, male stray dogs will be sterilised and spaying of females will be done. Sterilisation reduces the tendency of the dog to bite. Vaccination of stray dogs against rabies will also be done,' explained Sidhu. "The total expenditure on the programme has been worked out to Rs 445 per dog. It will be shared between the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and the local bodies department on a 50:50 basis,'' he added. The pilot project for implementation of the ABC programme was launched in Ludhiana last year, with stray dogs in Ludhiana city and those within a five kilometre radius as the target population. Sources say that in a recent meeting held under the chairmanship of Major General Dr R.M. Kharb (retd), chairman of AWBI, it was decided that 13 veterinary officers from the state would given special training in sterilisation and spaying at GADVASU, Ludhiana. "It was also decided that Rahul Sehgal, who heads a Ahmedabad-based NGO, would be asked to come to Punjab for training the officials engaged in the programme. This NGO has successfully carried out the ABC programme in five states,'' said an officer. The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2001, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, does not permit killing of dogs so they have to be sterilised. As per the census, Amritsar has the highest number of stray dogs at 37,856, followed by Ludhiana at 27,983.