How will city manage stray dogs? One sterilisation centre, shelter in red tape

Time of India

2 days ago

Raipur: Raipur is grappling with a rising stray dog menace, as the Municipal Corporation lacks a proper survey mechanism, shelter, and adequate sterilisation capacity. With only one operational sterilisation centre and an under-construction 168-capacity shelter stuck in bureaucratic clearance, the civic body struggles to curb aggressive dog incidents, which peak during breeding seasons.
Despite a daily target of 30 sterilisation procedures, only 15–20 are performed, and dogs are released back into their localities, allowing populations to rebound. Strict animal cruelty laws leave sterilisation as the only control method. Complaints to the Nidan helpline average a dozen per day, while hospitals report thousands of dog bite cases annually, including many among children. Pedestrians and motorists report being chased, a threat that is most pronounced at night.
The Raipur Municipal Corporation (RMC), which has 70 wards, does not have a comprehensive count of the stray dog population, as their registration is not mandatory. Unlike with cows, there is no proper mechanism in place to conduct a survey of stray dogs, according to RMC officials. The city, which is the capital of Chhattisgarh and has a population of around 20 lakh, also lacks a dedicated dog shelter.
A shelter home-cum-sterilisation centre with a 168-dog capacity at Sondongri in Zone-8 remains incomplete.
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Officials said the facility is 95% complete, but the file is pending at the headquarters for necessary clearance. The RMC's toll-free helpline, Nidan, receives about 12 complaints daily regarding the dog menace. RMC teams catch dogs, sterilise them, and then release them back into the same areas.
Health Officer Preeti Singh, who is handling the stray dog issues, said the civic body has only one sterilisation centre at Byron Bazaar within the city.
"We have set a target of sterilising 30 dogs per day, but our team can only manage to sterilise 15-20 dogs daily. After three days of observation, the dogs are released from the same place where they were picked up. We comply with rules laid down by the govt under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act," she stated.
She said the civic body is limited in its options due to strict laws. From Jan 2024 to July 2025, 7,996 dogs were sterilised, she said.
The health officer added that the Sondongri shelter will be used for treating and sterilising sick and aggressive dogs. The corporation hopes the shelter will lead to more consistent sterilisation efforts.
Meanwhile, according to a report from the state-run Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital, 4,279 anti-rabies vaccines were administered from Jan to July 2025. Of these, 1,764 were given to minors (under 18 years of age) and 2,515 to adults.
In 2024, a total of 4,382 dog bite cases requiring vaccination were reported, with 1,550 of these cases coming from the paediatric department. This was confirmed by a spokesperson at the hospital.
Veterinary Surgeon Dr Padam Jain told TOI that several factors contribute to stray dogs becoming aggressive. He cited socio-economic issues as a major cause, explaining that when dogs cannot find food, they become aggressive and eat whatever they can.
Referring to a photo from Gaza showing people fighting for food, Dr Jain drew a parallel to the desperation seen in stray dogs.
He said there are two seasons when female dogs come into heat, attracting half a dozen to a dozen males, which often chase the female and fight among themselves. In the process, passersby sometimes fall prey to attacks.
During prolonged rainy spells lasting a week or more, leftover food in public areas gets spoiled, creating a food shortage for stray dogs.
In the absence of food, they tend to become more aggressive. Environmental changes have also had some impact, though this, he said, is a matter for further research.
Dr Jain added that urbanisation and deforestation have increased interactions between stray dogs and wild animals, enhancing their fighting instincts. Finally, in cases where a stray dog is injured or killed in a road accident, the other dogs remember the vehicle and its colour, and may continue chasing similar vehicles in the future.
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