Bengaluru: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) claims its Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme has been effective in controlling the stray dog population, but citizen experiences and data suggest the city continues to struggle with stray dogs, dog bites, and related safety concerns.
Stray dog population and rising incidents
Stray dogs, often referred to as community dogs, are ubiquitous in Bengaluru. They roam in packs, often growling at pedestrians, cyclists, and two-wheeler riders. Sudden chases by these dogs have forced motorists to make dangerous manoeuvres.
State health department data reveals a sharp rise in dog bite cases in Bengaluru Urban: from 10,293 in 2022 to 16,121 in 2024, with 11,233 cases reported till August 12, 2025. Since 2023, 39 people, including children, have died due to dog bites in urban areas. In Bengaluru Rural, cases rose from 3,952 in 2022 to 8,879 in 2024, with 5,545 reported this year so far.
The 2023 BBMP dog census estimated 2.8 lakh stray dogs citywide, with Mahadevapura zone leading at 58,341 strays, followed by RR Nagar with 41,266.
ABC programme: successes and limitations
Since 2023, BBMP has neutered only 1.2 lakh stray dogs in Bengaluru Urban. Special Commissioner Vikas Suralkar Kishor acknowledged logistical challenges, including limited space for neutering centres and strict Animal Welfare Board (AWB) guidelines requiring dogs to remain in centres for a set number of days, reducing throughput.
Experts suggest breaking large zones like Mahadevapura into smaller zones to improve vaccination and sterilisation coverage. “We also need competent service providers to take ABC contracts if zones are broken up,” said Laavanya Koushik, a public policy lawyer working on animal protection.
BBMP claims the programme has curbed the rate of increase in stray dog populations within city limits.
Vaccination and pre-exposure measures
To address rising safety concerns, Karnataka plans to offer pre-exposure rabies vaccines (PrEP) to vulnerable groups such as milkmen, newspaper vendors, and pourakarmikas. Harsh Gupta, principal secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department, said PrEP would simplify post-exposure treatment for at-risk individuals.
BBMP has also intensified vaccination drives, aiming for 70% annual coverage. A pilot catch, vaccinate, neuter, and release (CVNR) programme is underway in select wards, along with a microchipping initiative for better tracking.
Community participation and coexistence
Residents continue to play a critical role in managing strays. Sakshi Prasad, a dog lover from Cox Town, has adopted multiple strays and advocates empathy for community dogs. Similarly, Veda Murali, a Grade 8 student in Hennur, takes care of around 20 community dogs, pooling resources with other residents to sterilize and vaccinate them.
BBMP officials emphasize that responsible citizen involvement, such as feeding dogs consistently, can reduce aggression and improve human-dog relationships.
Challenges in enforcement and coverage
Despite progress in urban areas, rural and semi-urban regions lack sufficient ABC coverage. Coordination between government departments, timely approvals from the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), and compliance with pet licensing and breeding regulations remain weak.
Illegal breeders and unlicensed pet shops continue to operate unchecked, while efforts to sterilize and vaccinate pet dogs are inadequate, contributing further to bite cases.
Conclusion
Bengaluru’s stray dog situation reflects a complex interplay of urbanisation, public behaviour, and infrastructure limitations. While BBMP’s ABC programme has helped stabilise population growth, rising dog bite cases, uneven coverage, and logistical challenges underscore the need for better coordination, stricter regulation, and active citizen participation to ensure safe coexistence between humans and community dogs.