The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has initiated a comprehensive review of its strategy for managing the city's stray dog population. This reassessment comes directly in response to a recent Supreme Court order that mandates the relocation of community dogs from public spaces.
Supreme Court Directive Prompts Action
The Supreme Court's November 7 order directed all states and Union Territories to remove stray dogs from key public areas including educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands, and railway stations. The court specified that these animals should be moved to designated shelters after undergoing sterilisation and vaccination procedures.
Dr. Sarika Funde, the chief veterinary officer of PMC, confirmed that the civic body has already begun the groundwork. "We've prepared a full schedule, and our representatives are visiting areas daily," Dr. Funde told The Indian Express. "We're conducting surveys of schools, hospitals, and government offices to understand how many institutions are involved."
This new directive marks a significant shift from the court's August 22 order, which had permitted dogs to be sterilised, vaccinated, and released back to their original territories. The latest verdict has created confusion and concern among the city's animal welfare community.
Dog Feeders Voice Concerns Over Relocation
For local residents who regularly feed and care for community dogs, the Supreme Court's latest ruling has sparked anxiety and frustration. Many fear that relocation efforts will be impractical and inhumane.
Ishneet Ahluwalia, a self-employed illustrator from NIBM who feeds and sterilises dogs in her locality, expressed her concerns about the frequent policy changes. "These spaces are their homes. Removing them is neither practical nor humane," Ahluwalia stated. She highlighted that feeders often personally vaccinate and sterilise dogs, but proper implementation of Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules by authorities remains inconsistent.
Anuva Joseph from Koregaon Park echoed similar sentiments, questioning the logic behind relocation. "If relocation is possible, so is sterilisation," Joseph argued. She emphasized that if the government has resources to relocate lakhs of animals to shelters, it could instead strengthen the ABC programme. "The humane solution is what the August 22 order said – sterilise, vaccinate, and release the dogs back to their areas," she added.
Balancing Public Safety and Animal Welfare
Despite the changing legal landscape, the PMC maintains that sterilisation and vaccination efforts continue under the ongoing Animal Birth Control programme. Dr. Funde reiterated that ensuring humane treatment while maintaining a balance between public safety and animal welfare remains the corporation's priority.
As Pune awaits the PMC's revised action plan, animal welfare volunteers and feeders are urging the authorities to consult with local caregivers and NGOs before initiating any mass relocation efforts. They advocate for a more nuanced approach that would isolate aggressive or rabid dogs while allowing vaccinated and sterilised dogs to remain in their familiar territories.
The coming weeks will be crucial as the municipal corporation works to implement the Supreme Court's directive while addressing the legitimate concerns raised by the city's animal welfare community.
