New Delhi, Jan. 21 -- India is preparing a national funding offensive to tackle a burgeoning stray dog crisis, as a surge in attacks and rabies fatalities forces the government to intervene in a long-standing public health failure.

The Union budget may propose a scheme to finance the mass sterilization of stray dogs at government veterinary hospitals, three officials familiar with the matter said. The scheme, the first of its kind in India, will provide one-time grants to the hospitals to build dedicated surgical theatres and post-operative recovery facilities.

The Union ministry of fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying has submitted the Animal Birth Control (ABC) scheme to the finance ministry, the people cited above said on the con...