BMC enters deal to vaccinate one lakh stray dogs in Mumbai

Data furnished by the civic body showed that while 78,756 dog bite cases were registered in 2022, 61,332 cases of dog bites were reported in 2021. Meanwhile, in 2020, 53,020 cases were recorded.

Civic reports show that at present, Mumbai city and its suburbs have a population of 1,64,000 stray dogs. (Express Photo)

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With the city recording a rising number of dog bite cases, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has struck a deal with Mission Rabies and Worldwide Veterinary Services (WVS) to vaccinate one lakh stray dogs in Mumbai each year.

Data furnished by the civic body showed that while 78,756 dog bite cases were registered in 2022, 61,332 cases of dog bites were reported in 2021. Meanwhile, in 2020, 53,020 cases were recorded.

While the initiative will take off in September 2023, civic body officials said that a survey of stray dogs will be carried out in January 2024, following which a large-scale rabies vaccination campaign will be undertaken in February next year. As a part of the campaign, the civic body aims to achieve the target of vaccinating around one lakh stray dogs within 10 days.

Civic reports show that at present, Mumbai city and its suburbs have a population of 1,64,000 stray dogs. Meanwhile, according to a survey carried out in 2014, there were over 95,172 stray dogs in the city.

“Expert volunteers associated with Mission Rabies will come to Mumbai for survey and vaccination. This includes 100 teams of hand catchers and 20 teams of net catchers. About 450 to 600 in manpower will be required to vaccinate 1 lakh stray dogs in Mumbai,” said a bulletin released by the civic body on Tuesday. The BMC is also slated to engage NGOs as well as students from various colleges across the city to aid the campaign.

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