Addressing a press conference on Friday, Municipal Commissioner Jairaj Phatak said that he did not expect the figures to be so low.

“I thought there would be at least one lakh stray dogs, but the census revealed a lower figure,” he said.

The civic body is carrying out a detailed animal survey, which will provide a census on cows, dogs and other animals. The primary report on dogs stated there are only 97,000 dogs in the city, including 70,000 strays. The survey has contradicted the claims of several NGOs that had estimated the figure at over 5 lakh.

Phatak, however, said that it would be difficult to say whether the population of dogs has increased or decreased in the city. “This is the first comprehensive survey on animals done in the city,” he said.

When asked how the survey was conducted, Phatak said, “The local volunteers appointed by the BMC went door-to-door to verify pets.” For strays, he added, “Since the volunteers were locals, they recognised the stray dogs, their usual place of sleeping and staying.”

Executive Health Officer Dr Jairaj Thanekar said that there was no tagging method used for verification of stray dogs and it was based on the knowledge of locals and volunteers. The authorities are yet to release ward wise figures.

Giving BMC the benefit of doubt, Abod Aras, secretary of Welfare for Stray Dogs, said, “If the BMC has arrived at the census accurately, then we don’t have anything to complain about. But we need to know an area or ward-wise break-up to take further action.”

The census figures on stray dogs will also result in a review of policies on stray dogs. According to the Bombay High Court directive, around 6 lakh stray dogs were to be shifted outside the city limits and 44 acres of land selected in Palghar and Vasai for the rehabilitation process. Due to problems related to the lease of land, the rehabilitation process was put on hold. Thanekar added that now the civic administration will seek a review on the policy. “Since there are only 70,000 stray dogs, we will have to take stock of how many need to be rehabilitated outside,” he said.

Going by the NGOs estimate of stray dogs, the BMC had appointed 12 NGOs to carry out sterilisation and immunisation under the dog control programme in October. As per the agreement, NGOs were to sterilise and immunise 100 dogs per day at the cost of Rs 600 per dog and for a period of 11 months. Thanekar said that since the actual figure of stray dogs is now known, the sterilisation programme will be carried out at a faster pace.