Issue of Stray Dogs

• 23 Feb 2013


• Hindustan Times (Mumbai)

• Megha Pol megha.pol@hindustantimes.com



Stray dogs in city up by 20,000 in 5 yrs

Amidst sterilisation work, number of stray dogs has gone up from 20,000 in 2008 to 40,000 in 2013 in city

THANE: With the increase in population of the city, the population of stray dogs has also increased over the years. The number of stray dogs in the city has gone up from 20,000 in 2008 to 40,000 in 2013. This increase raises a question mark on the effectiveness on corporation’s stray dog sterilisation system. The residents on the other hand have to bear the increasing menace of stray dogs in the city. Dogs chasing the bikers or cyclist or barking throughout the night are common. Residents also complained that the stray dogs deface the premises of the society.


The population of stray dogs in Thane city is now approximately 2 to 3 per cent of the total human population.

Satyajit Shah, a resident of Hyde Park, said, “Many residents of our society are bitten by these strays. Recently, a woman from our society was travelling pillion with her husband when a dog chased them. When her husband decreased the speed of the bike to discourage the stray, it bit the women on the legs. These incidents have become common in the last few years.”

He said that the dogs bark during the night giving people sleepless nights. “Many small children and senior citizens are bitten by the stray who are susceptible to infections. The senior residents are incapable of running when troubled by a dog. Children at times do not alert their parents of a dog bite fearing their wrath. This could lead to serious infection in them.”

Shah expressed that the only solution for this is for the dog lovers should stop feeding them while the corporation should build dog shelters to care for these strays.

Aruna Vichare, a resident of Kalwa, said, “I return home late owing to my office timings. I am scared to go home as stray dogs are barking every where on the road. They look so ferocious that they may attack me,”

The corporation, however, claimed that they are doing their bit. TMC’s website claims to receive three to four complains of stray dogs everyday. “There are more than 40,000 dogs in the city out of which we have sterilised 38,769 dogs till February 13. The TMC sterilises 10 to 20 dogs daily. We have one dog centre and 60 cages. The cost of sterilisation of one dag is Rs.740,” said Sandeep Malvi, TMC PRO.