No shelter homes in city, need to build them: BMC on SC order on stray dogs

There are nine ABC centres in Mumbai at present in Mahalaxmi, Sewri, Parel, Deonar, Malad and Mulund. However, these centres don’t have the facilities to serve as a shelter home.

A survey report published by the civic authority in April this year found that Mumbai’s street dog population has declined by 21% in the past decade. According to the report, in 2014 the population of street dogs in Mumbai stood at 95,172 or 10.54 dogs every km. In 2024, it was 90,757 or 8.01 dogs every km. The survey was carried out by Human Society Internationale/India, which surveyed road length of 930 km.

“Dog shelters need to have individual kennels, well-ventilated floors and dedicated playing areas. The existing centres do not have such facilities. So we need to build shelters from scratch or existing structures can be converted into such facilities. We will carry out a survey to identify BMC properties at the ward level, where such shelter homes can be set up,” the official added.

The BMC may rope in NGOs as consultants for setting up and maintaining these facilities.

BMC’s report showed that while the dog population declined by an average 31% in 19 municipal wards, it increased by 19.9% in four municipal wards — E (Byculla), N (Ghatkopar), R South (Kandivali) and T (Mulund). In D (Malabar Hill) ward the population remained the same. In K/west (Andheri, Juhu) the population of stray dogs declined by 70%, followed by 68% at H/West (Bandra West) and 59% at H/East (Bandra East). Tthe highest increase in population was recorded at T ward at 37%, followed by 22% at E ward.

Civic officials said to keep the dog population in check sterilisation was taken up in the past 10 years. BMC’s data also show that out of the total population, 30% of female dogs were sterilised and 31% of male dogs were sterilised. In 2014, 19% of male dogs were sterilised while 46% of female dogs were sterilised.

“The reason behind the decline in population of street dogs is sterilisation of the animals. Sterilisation increases survival rate and reduces chances of man-animal conflict. Also keeping the dog population in check prevents spread of diseases like rabies,” an official said.

The report stated that post-Covid there has been an uptick of dog bite complaints in Mumbai. Usually, most of these complaints are registered during August-September months which are usually the breeding season of dogs.