The visit highlighted how dog sterilization and anti-rabies vaccination initiatives can be effectively implemented through strong community engagement, positioning Lucknow as a model city for humane street dog population management, reduced conflict, and improved human–dog co-existence in India.
In India, millions of street dogs live in close proximity to people, creating complex urban challenges. The Lucknow programme demonstrates that when science-led strategic interventions are combined with compassion and community ownership, a replicable pathway emerges for cities seeking humane and sustainable solutions to human–dog conflict.
A defining feature of the initiative is its emphasis on community members and street dog caregivers as active participants rather than passive beneficiaries. Community volunteers, residents, Resident Welfare Associations, and community dog caretakers play a central role in monitoring street dogs, managing designated feeding zones, and collaborating with field teams to identify unsterilized animals. At present, more than 475 Abhay Sankalp societies—resident groups formed to support humane street dog management and coexistence—operate across the city, engaging over 15,000 community members.
Supported by the Mars Impact Fund, the programme has strengthened community-led approaches to companion animal welfare in urban India. Since its inception, more than one lakh street dogs have been sterilized and vaccinated, achieving over 80% sterilization coverage in the city. Notably, 25% of these efforts have been enabled through community participation, reflecting a growing shift toward shared responsibility in humane and sustainable animal population management.
During the visit, Mars representatives interacted with community members and volunteers engaged in the programme, gaining insight into how local participation is shaping outcomes. The delegation also attended a dog behaviour awareness workshop for children, demonstrating how early education helps explain dog behaviour, reduce fear-based responses, prevent conflict, and foster empathy and safer human–animal interactions.
Michelle Grogg, Executive Director, Mars Impact Fund, stated: “Witnessing the Lucknow program firsthand is a powerful reminder of what's possible when science, compassion, and community come together. This is exactly the kind of sustainable, scalable impact we aim to support through the Mars Impact Fund. Humane World for Animals India has created a replicable model that not only improves the welfare of street dogs but also strengthens the bond between people and pets. At Mars, we believe in creating a better world for pets, and this program is a perfect example of how we can achieve that by empowering local partners to drive meaningful change from the ground up.”
Keren Nazareth, Senior Director, Companion Animals and Engagement, Humane World for Animals India, said: “Lasting change for street dogs is as much about people as it is about dogs. While interventions like sterilization and vaccination remain critical, when community residents are informed, involved and supported, they become the strongest drivers and agents of coexistence. The Mars Impact Fund‘s support allows us to deepen that engagement on the ground and build solutions that are humane and sustainable.”
The ABC programme in Lucknow was initiated in 2019 in collaboration with the Lucknow Nagar Nigam, Uttar Pradesh. More than one lakh dogs have been sterilized so far, including Chitti, the 100,000th community dog sterilized under the programme, who was rescued by a resident volunteer after being found injured on the street and brought to the Lucknow facility.
Each week, 250–300 dogs are sterilized, vaccinated and released back to their original locations. The initiative is supported by over 30 trained staff members, six vehicles, and a strong network of community volunteers. A monitoring survey conducted in December 2024 found that 84.3% of Lucknow’s street dogs have been sterilized and vaccinated. Additionally, over 31,000 public concerns related to street dogs have been addressed through humane interventions, including sterilization, vaccination and community awareness.
The Mars Impact Fund, launched in 2026 as an $85 million global fund, is dedicated to complementing Mars, Incorporated’s sustainability and philanthropic efforts through long-term strategic investments that strengthen communities, advance scientific opportunity, and improve companion animal wellbeing. The fund builds on Mars’ long-standing global partnership with Humane World for Animals, with programme support in India beginning in 2020.
Humane World for Animals (formerly known as Humane Society International) works in India and globally to improve the welfare of street, community, and companion dogs and cats. Since 2013, more than 400,000 street dogs have been sterilized and vaccinated in India through its programmes, spanning regions including North America, South Africa, Mexico, India, Chile, Costa Rica, Romania, and Bolivia.
Mars, Incorporated is a $65bn+ family-owned business with a diverse portfolio of pet care products, veterinary services, and global food and snacking brands, including ROYAL CANIN®, PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, CESAR®, M&M’S®, SNICKERS®, Pringles®, Cheez-It®, and BEN’S ORIGINAL™. Its veterinary hospital networks—BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, VCA™, and ANICURA™—and diagnostics business ANTECH® support global pet health. Guided by its Five Principles—Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency, and Freedom—the company’s 170,000+ Associates work toward a better world for people, pets, and the planet.
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