PCMC's sterilisation drive slammed as over 8k dog bite incidents reported in three months

Time of India

21-07-2025

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Pune: Pimpri Chinchwad has reported 8,335 dog bite cases from April till June 25, 2025, as per official data.
Civic officials said there has been a rise in these incidents over recent years.
According to data from Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), the twin cities recorded 28,099 dog bite cases in FY 2024-25, up from 13,892 cases in 2021-22.
The issue has raised concerns about the ineffectiveness of the civic body's stray dog sterilisation efforts.
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Residents said the issue has citywide effects. Bhosari resident Kunal Gaikwad told TOI, "PCMC has failed to control the dog population. Stray dogs tend to chase commuters in the nighttime."
Rahul Verma, who stays in Wakad, said, "The number of stray dogs has gone up in our area. We see dog bites reported and fear for children to go to play outside."
Animal welfare workers blamed PCMC for its poor spaying/neutering and anti-rabies vaccination drives as well as lack of awareness campaigns, which they asserted is the legal solution.
Gitanjali Desai of NGO Saahas for Animals told TOI the civic administration must also focus on public awareness to educate people on identifying rabies-infected animals, preventing unnecessary fear and attacks on all stray dogs.
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"PCMC is not conducting anti-rabies vaccination drives effectively, and sterilisation efforts have been poor. For nearly a year, their animal OPD has been shut, and no surgeries have taken place," she pointed out.
Desai further said that people who are less aware of animal rules call the veterinary department helpline number, which is not operational. "This delays treatment for animals and help for citizens if needed," she explained.
PCMC officials refuted that the slowdown in sterilisation efforts is due to the expiry of the contract with a private agency in Dec last year. A senior official from the PCMC veterinary department admitted, "Although sterilisation continues at a limited pace through contractual veterinary doctors, progress is sluggish."
Now, PCMC has hired 16 contractual staff members dedicated to sterilisation work. "They are scheduled to join duty from July 25, after which the sterilisation drive is expected to gain momentum," the official assured.
Last week, minister Uday Samant had said state govt will launch an extensive sterilisation drive soon across municipalities.
Recently, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) veterinary department head Sarika Funde had told TOI that dog bite numbers can often appear higher as even smaller scratches are reported under this category.
Pune: Pimpri Chinchwad has reported 8,335 dog bite cases from April till June 25, 2025, as per official data.
Civic officials said there has been a rise in these incidents over recent years. According to data from Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), the twin cities recorded 28,099 dog bite cases in FY 2024-25, up from 13,892 cases in 2021-22.
The issue has raised concerns about the ineffectiveness of the civic body's stray dog sterilisation efforts.
Residents said the issue has citywide effects. Bhosari resident Kunal Gaikwad told TOI, "PCMC has failed to control the dog population.
Stray dogs tend to chase commuters in the nighttime." Rahul Verma, who stays in Wakad, said, "The number of stray dogs has gone up in our area. We see dog bites reported and fear for children to go to play outside."
Animal welfare workers blamed PCMC for its poor spaying/neutering and anti-rabies vaccination drives as well as lack of awareness campaigns, which they asserted is the legal solution.
Gitanjali Desai of NGO Saahas for Animals told TOI the civic administration must also focus on public awareness to educate people on identifying rabies-infected animals, preventing unnecessary fear and attacks on all stray dogs.
"PCMC is not conducting anti-rabies vaccination drives effectively, and sterilisation efforts have been poor. For nearly a year, their animal OPD has been shut, and no surgeries have taken place," she pointed out.
Desai further said that people who are less aware of animal rules call the veterinary department helpline number, which is not operational. "This delays treatment for animals and help for citizens if needed," she explained.
PCMC officials refuted that the slowdown in sterilisation efforts is due to the expiry of the contract with a private agency in Dec last year. A senior official from the PCMC veterinary department admitted, "Although sterilisation continues at a limited pace through contractual veterinary doctors, progress is sluggish."
Now, PCMC has hired 16 contractual staff members dedicated to sterilisation work. "They are scheduled to join duty from July 25, after which the sterilisation drive is expected to gain momentum," the official assured.
Last week, minister Uday Samant had said state govt will launch an extensive sterilisation drive soon across municipalities.
Recently, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) veterinary department head Sarika Funde had told TOI that dog bite numbers can often appear higher as even smaller scratches are reported under this category.