Only 5% of Dogs Registered Amid Stray Crisis

Debate unfolded in Parliament on Tuesday, December 9, as the Minister of Agro-Industry was sharply questioned over a “catastrophic” start to the national dog registration campaign, which has so far failed to register up to 95% of the country’s canine population.

The alarming figure—that only 5 % of dogs are currently registered—came to light after Deputy Adrien Duval grilled Minister Arvin Boolell on the surge in stray dogs, delays in establishing shelters, and the widely criticized rollout of the registration drive.

Registration Campaign in Chaos

Official figures from the Mauritius Society for Animal Welfare (MSAW) indicate that between 250,000 and 300,000 dogs remain “off the radar.”

The Minister’s team is currently reliant on an outdated 2013 baseline study, forcing the Ministry to plan a new national drone survey to map the canine population, identify packs, and inform future policies.

While Minister Boolell defended the effort, stating, “We are moving forward despite limited resources,” the campaign’s slow start was heavily scrutinised.

• Accelerated Effort: The MSAW has reportedly ramped up its efforts, registering 14,500 dogs in the last two months—more than double the total number registered throughout the entirety of 2024.
• Panic and High Fees: Deputy Duval slammed the initial phase as “anxiety-provoking,” citing confusion among owners, an emergency reduction in the registration fee (from Rs 500 to Rs 350), and only one initial registration centre.

Source: Defi Media