The Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) decision to round up community dogs along the route of a high-speed cycle rally has triggered strong protests from animal welfare activists, who have termed the drive “cruel, illegal and poorly planned”.
The dog-catching exercise continued until the final day of the event on Friday. Volunteers alleged that community dogs were chased through heavy traffic in peak daytime heat and confined inside PMC dog-catching vans for up to 12 hours, causing severe distress to the animals.
Allegations of illegal relocation
Activists said several dogs were transported to holding facilities such as Canine Control and Care (CCC) and the Blue Cross during the drive. Under Indian animal welfare laws, the relocation of community dogs from their established territories is prohibited, as it can cause physiological stress and disrupt local ecological balance.
Manjiree Patawarrdhan, a community dog caregiver, highlighted serious coordination failures. “Several dogs were kept in captivity for up to 12 hours due to poor planning. Dogs were lifted from large areas without proper geo-tagging or involvement of local caregivers, making identification and timely release extremely difficult,” she said, estimating that over 100 dogs may have been picked up over the past few days.
She added that even temporary removal amounts to illegal relocation. “Animals do not understand being moved to so-called ‘safe’ places. This causes extreme stress,” she said.
Vulnerable animals among those caught
Bhagyendra Chudasama, an animal welfare volunteer who monitored the drive, said the operation also targeted old and non-reactive dogs. He cited the case of a 15–16-year-old dog on F.C. Road that was allegedly picked up despite posing no threat.
“By Friday evening, one PMC van was carrying 12 dogs who were confined until 8 pm without food or water. Shockingly, even the staff could not clearly say where each dog had been picked up from. This lack of accountability is deeply inhumane,” Chudasama alleged.
PMC defends action
PMC officials defended the drive, stating it was carried out on the orders of the district collector to ensure the safety of cyclists during the rally. A senior official said the dogs were released after a few hours and housed temporarily in PMC vans or designated facilities.
“The objective was to prevent injury to both dogs and cyclists during a high-speed event,” the official said.
Call for adherence to ABC Rules
Despite the justification, activists have urged PMC to strictly follow the Animal Birth Control Rules, stressing that public events should not override animal rights or welfare norms. They have called for better planning and coordination with caregivers to avoid similar incidents in future.