The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has calculated that caring for a stray dog in the city will cost approximately Rs 111.2 per animal per day. This figure, derived from a detailed expenditure assessment, has ignited a debate on whether this allocation is sufficient to meet basic animal welfare standards in India's tech capital.
Breaking Down the Rs 3.3 Lakh Monthly Estimate
According to records, the GBA has projected a recurring monthly expenditure of Rs 3.3 lakh to house around 100 stray dogs. This planning exercise follows recent Supreme Court directives mandating local bodies to establish systems for the temporary sheltering of dogs in need.
The cost breakdown for the first month for 100 dogs is as follows:
- Food (twice daily): Rs 1,50,000
- Staffing: Rs 1,18,483
- Medicine: Rs 10,000
- Administration cost: Rs 10,000
- Catching of dogs (Rs 300 per dog): Rs 30,000
This brings the total first-month cost to Rs 3,33,483. Notably, the catching expenses are excluded from the calculation from the second month onwards.
NGOs Raise Concerns Over Budget Adequacy
The GBA, which currently operates only about eight Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres and no dedicated shelters, plans to construct temporary shelters until permanent ones are built. It also intends to engage NGOs to host picked-up strays.
However, a Bengaluru-based NGO registered under the Animal Welfare Board of India revealed that no NGOs were consulted during the expenditure planning. The NGO representative stated that a minimum of over Rs 4,000 per month per dog might be needed, depending on the animal's health, suggesting the GBA's estimate may fall short.
The animal husbandry department has not yet confirmed government approval for this expenditure. However, commissioners of the five city corporations under GBA confirmed they have been directed to refer to this cost structure.
Logistics, Infrastructure, and Activists' Critique
The estimated costs cover two daily meals, staff salaries, utilities, disinfectants, bio-waste disposal, and basic veterinary care including anti-rabies treatment. Officials revised the daily food cost to Rs 50 per dog for two meals, a significant increase from an earlier rate of Rs 22.4. Each cooked meal is estimated at 600 grams, including 150 grams of chicken and 100 grams of vegetables.
Critically, the estimated expenditure does not include infrastructure costs. Building and maintaining shelters will be the responsibility of local municipal authorities, guided by SOPs from the Animal Welfare Board.
Animal activists argue that corporations are wasting taxpayer money on temporary shelters, a provision not explicitly mentioned in SOPs or the Supreme Court order. They advocate for action only after proper shelters are ready. Activists and veterinarians consistently warn that inadequate budgeting compromises care quality, affecting feeding, hygiene, disease control, and staff availability.
This financial assessment comes at a critical time, amid increased public scrutiny of stray dog management following court interventions and a rise in reported dog bite incidents across Bengaluru. Civic authorities now face the complex challenge of balancing public safety with their legal animal welfare obligations.
