Pune Reports 65,000 Dog Bite Incidents in 3 Years, 1 Lakh Dogs Sterilised
Pune Reports 65,000 Dog Bite Incidents in 3 Years, 1 Lakh Dogs Sterilised
Pune, July 12, 2025: Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant on Friday announced in the state assembly that a major campaign will soon be launched across civic bodies to tackle the rising issue of stray dog-human conflicts, while ensuring strict compliance with Supreme Court guidelines.
Responding to a question raised by BJP MLC Amit Gorkhe in the legislative council, Samant revealed that the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has recorded a significant 42% decline in the stray dog population in recent years. However, dog bite incidents in the city have surged sharply, increasing from 16,569 cases in 2022 to 25,899 in 2024.
Since 2022, Pune has reported over 65,000 cases of dog bites, while more than one lakh dogs have been sterilised over the past two years, Samant informed the House.
Speaking on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who holds the urban development portfolio, Samant addressed concerns flagged by Gorkhe on Thursday over the growing stray dog menace and the efforts of agencies in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad to manage it.
“The problem is not confined to PMC and PCMC limits. It extends to areas under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and even rural regions governed by gram panchayats and municipal councils,” Samant pointed out.
He said the upcoming initiative will focus on intensifying sterilisation drives and administering anti-rabies vaccinations to curb the stray dog population. “We are ensuring strict adherence to Supreme Court directives as civic authorities carry out measures to address this issue,” he added.
Samant underlined the need for a coordinated, large-scale campaign across all urban and rural local bodies to achieve effective and sustainable results in controlling the stray dog menace.
