City Divided Over SC Order On Delhi-NCR Street Dogs; Many Seek Same Action In Bhopal, Dog Lovers Upset

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The conflict between the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) and pet lovers over street dog management is intensifying, even as the number of strays continues to grow in the city.

While the Supreme Court recently ordered the removal of stray dogs from Delhi-NCR streets to animal shelters, calls are rising on social media to implement the same in Bhopal.

The demand is supported by residents frustrated with frequent stray dog incidents. However, animal rights activists and members of People for Animals (PFA) claim that efforts are underway to secure a stay on the Supreme Court’s order, which they expect may be granted next week.

Bhopal receives around 15–20 stray dog complaints daily, but only about 30% result in action. Officials say the main reason for low action rates is opposition from pet lovers when the BMC’s dog squad tries to capture strays. Several disputes have escalated to police stations, with FIRs filed in cases such as those at Ayodhya Nagar.

The Central Government’s revised Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, require sterilisation and vaccination of strays before releasing them back. However, BMC veterinary officer Dr. D.P. Singh says pet lovers often block attempts to capture dogs. Even when dogs are taken for sterilisation, they are soon reclaimed by activists, he says.

Residents elated at SC order

The Mayor's helpline is receiving the most complaints about street dogs. Currently, there are more than 1,300 complaints related to stray dogs, and officials say that most residents are troubled by the dogs barking all night, so the SC order brings them hope.

PFA calls for joint action

PFA member Swati Gaur accuses the BMC of manipulating sterilisation figures, citing an incident in Katara Hills’ Signature City where already-sterilized dogs were allegedly picked up. She proposes a pilot project in five wards, run jointly with PFA, promising 100% sterilisation success. 

‘Shelter homes are jails’

Petlover Nitin Pullarwarsays to Free Press that shelter homes are nothing but just a jail for innocent dogs who do not bite anyone by force. The BMC should find better options for their management, he says. 

Different rules across states

India’s states have varying laws on stray dogs. Uttar Pradesh has the strictest regulations, banning uncontrolled public feeding. In Kerala, the stray dog population rose to about 2.89 lakh between 2012 and 2019, prompting the formation of special monitoring committees to enforce Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules. Mumbai allows feeding, but only in designated clean areas, while Goa became the first rabies-controlled state in 2017, with no human rabies cases reported since.

Sterilisation facilities to be expanded

BMC veterinary officer Dr. Singh counters that each ABC centre sterilizes 600–700 dogs monthly, and dog bite incidents have declined compared to last year. The BMC also plans to expand sterilisation facilities in the city, he says.