Maharashtra plans a coordinated campaign across urban and rural areas to curb stray dog attacks through sterilisation and vaccination, after a steep rise in bite cases despite population control efforts.
Mumbai | July 12, 2025: Rising concerns over stray dog attacks have prompted the Maharashtra government to announce a large-scale campaign targeting the growing human-animal conflict in urban and rural regions alike. Industries Minister Uday Samant, addressing the Legislative Council on Friday, confirmed that the initiative would be implemented across all local governing bodies and would strictly follow Supreme Court directives related to stray dog management.
The matter was raised by BJP MLC Amit Gorkhe, who questioned the government’s preparedness in tackling stray dog issues, particularly in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Replying on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Samant acknowledged the gravity of the problem, noting that it extends beyond major municipal areas like Pune and Mumbai and is equally prevalent in smaller towns and village councils.
Despite Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) successfully reducing the stray dog population by 42% in recent years through sterilisation programs, the number of dog bite incidents has soared. In 2024 alone, the city recorded over 25,000 bite cases—nearly 10,000 more than in 2022. Over the last two years, more than 65,000 dog bite cases have been registered in Pune, while over one lakh dogs have undergone sterilisation.
Highlighting the challenges civic agencies face, Samant stressed the importance of aligning local-level action with state and national legal guidelines. “Efforts are being made to ramp up sterilisation procedures and expand anti-rabies vaccination coverage,” he said. The new campaign will unify efforts of municipal corporations, gram panchayats, and municipal councils to bring about a long-term solution to the menace.
The state’s approach will not only involve more efficient population control of stray dogs but also aim to ensure public safety without violating animal welfare norms. Civic bodies are being instructed to intensify operations and monitor results closely.
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