Bengaluru's Stray Dog Adoption Drive Faces Policy Contradiction
A significant contradiction has surfaced within Bengaluru's civic administration regarding stray dog management. The Greater Bengaluru Authority's (GBA) ongoing adoption initiative appears to directly conflict with chief commissioner M Maheshwar Rao's earlier proposal to limit the number of pet dogs in residential homes to three under a forthcoming pet regulation policy.
Conflicting Guidelines Create Administrative Inconsistency
While Commissioner Rao's directive clearly stated that households should not keep more than three pet dogs, a senior veterinary officer from the animal husbandry division has clarified that there is no fixed cap on the number of stray dogs an individual can adopt. This permission comes with specific conditions: adopters must demonstrate adequate infrastructure and financial capacity to ensure proper food, shelter, and comprehensive medical care for the animals.
The senior veterinary officer from GBA explained: "Our adoption drive focuses on humane rehabilitation of aggressive or vulnerable street dogs that cannot be safely released back into public spaces after being collected. These dogs undergo thorough health screening, receive anti-rabies vaccination (ARV), combined vaccination protocols, and Animal Birth Control (ABC) sterilisation procedures before being offered for adoption. All processes strictly follow the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and the updated Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023."
Current Adoption Model Versus Proposed Pet Policy
Under the existing adoption framework, individuals with sufficient land or institutional premises may adopt multiple dogs without numerical restrictions. However, this absence of a defined ceiling in adoption guidelines creates a clear inconsistency with the three-dog limitation proposed under the residential pet policy currently under consideration.
The scale of this issue becomes apparent when examining adoption statistics. In Bengaluru North city corporation limits alone, 26 stray dogs have been adopted through GBA's program, including an impressive 20 dogs adopted by a single individual. Authorities estimate that nearly 65,000 stray dogs currently inhabit this zone, with another 10 to 15 animals ready for immediate adoption.
Civic Authorities Promote Responsible Adoption Strategy
Civic authorities continue to encourage responsible adoption as a long-term strategy to reduce the street dog population while preventing animal cruelty. GBA is simultaneously preparing to float tenders for a proposed 500-capacity dog shelter at Madi Agrahara, a project developed in alignment with Supreme Court directions regarding humane stray dog management practices.
Adoption Process and Contact Information
Stray dogs are available for adoption across all five municipal zones under GBA jurisdiction. Interested individuals should contact the chief veterinary officer of their respective municipal corporation's animal husbandry department. The dedicated helpline number 1533 serves both adoption inquiries and stray dog-related complaints, providing a centralized resource for community members.
