Pune’s airport takes a compassionate step to balance animal welfare and aviation safety by creating designated feeding zones for stray dogs. The initiative aims to keep dogs away from runways while ensuring their care, easing community concerns.
Pune | 29 July, 2025: In a heartfelt effort to protect both travelers and stray dogs, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has introduced designated feeding zones near Pune Airport in Viman Nagar, announced on July 29, 2025. The move addresses growing safety concerns after stray dogs and even a leopard were spotted in the airport’s operational areas, posing risks to flight operations. For the community, this initiative reflects a commitment to harmonizing human safety with the well-being of animals who share the city’s spaces.
The feeding zones, strategically placed at two spots in front of the AeroMall and two behind the Symbiosis College campus, offer a safe space for local volunteers to feed stray dogs without drawing them to critical areas like runways or terminals. This thoughtful approach follows incidents that raised alarm, including a June 28 event where an Air India Express flight from Bhubaneswar, carrying 150 passengers, had to abort its landing due to a dog on the runway. Another tragic incident earlier this year saw a SpiceJet aircraft accidentally kill a stray dog while taxiing. These events underscored the urgent need for a solution that respects both aviation safety and animal welfare.
The PMC has worked closely with animal feeders, encouraging them to use the new zones and feed dogs late at night, around 11 PM, when air traffic is minimal. This scheduling reduces the chances of dogs wandering into operational areas, ensuring safer skies for passengers. Between June 30 and July 4, the PMC captured 12 stray dogs from the airport premises, sterilizing and vaccinating them before releasing them outside the terminal area, in line with Animal Birth Control (ABC) guidelines. This careful balance ensures the dogs remain in their familiar territory while minimizing risks to flights.
The initiative also responds to changes in the airport’s layout. Previously, stray dogs were fed behind the old terminal’s canteen, a spot bustling with staff and passengers. With that area now closed for redevelopment, the new feeding zones provide a structured alternative, keeping dogs away from high-traffic zones. The PMC’s veterinary team, alongside airport security, continues to monitor the surroundings twice weekly, fostering a collaborative effort to maintain safety.
For Pune’s residents, this solution brings relief, addressing fears about aviation hazards while showing compassion for the city’s stray dogs. The community appreciates the PMC’s proactive steps, which honor legal protections for animals while prioritizing passenger safety. As surveillance continues, the hope is to prevent future incidents, creating a safer, more humane environment around Pune Airport. This initiative stands as a model for other cities, proving that care for animals and human safety can coexist with thoughtful planning.
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