In Bengaluru, the closure of 28 government veterinary clinics in December 2023 has created a crisis in animal healthcare, leaving just two public hospitals—Hebbal Veterinary College and Queen’s Road 24/7 facility—to serve the entire city.
Animal lovers and activists are voicing serious concerns as they struggle to find affordable treatment for both pets and stray animals. The shutdown has especially impacted strays, with citizens forced to rely on costly private hospitals. A Change.org petition, urging the state to revoke its decision, gathered over 500 signatures, yet the government stood firm, stating a decline in cattle population and a need to redirect resources to rural zones.
Priya Chetty-Rajagopal, of CJ Memorial Trust, said, “These closures stripped many of low-cost animal care. A year on, no clinic has reopened.” One resident revealed that former clinic spaces are now being converted into commercial use, such as a silk showroom, exposing the state’s indifference toward animal welfare.
However, hope flickers. BBMP Special Commissioner Vikas Suralkar Kishor confirmed plans to launch vet hospitals in six of eight zones, despite legal hurdles around transferring old clinic properties.
Citizens like Pramod Kumar, Bharati Srivastava, and Rishav Satapatty emphasized how this gap in care deters pet adoption, burdens volunteers, and prevents timely help for suffering animals.
With nearly 2.7 lakh stray dogs and countless other animals on the streets, the urgency for accessible veterinary care cannot be overstated.
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