Pune: Five Stray Dogs Poisoned to Death at Pimpri Housing Society, Four Others Critical

Pimpri, 15th April 2025: Five stray dogs were reportedly poisoned to death and four others were left in critical condition at a housing society in Pimpri on Sunday night. The incident has raised concerns among animal rights activists, prompting the police to register a case on Monday.

Priya Gugale, an animal lover and resident of the society, was the first to notice the affected dogs. She explained that she went to feed the stray dogs at their usual spots around 10 p.m. on Sunday when she found them visibly unwell. “We rushed them to a veterinary doctor, who confirmed that they had ingested a toxic substance. Despite receiving an antidote, the poison had already spread through their systems, and we lost three dogs that night,” Gugale said.

Sadly, two more dogs died after the complaint was lodged with the Sant Tukaram Nagar police, bringing the total death toll to five. “Four dogs are still fighting for their lives and are in critical condition,” Gugale added. The tragic incident comes amid ongoing tensions in the society over the presence of stray animals.

The housing society, which spans 16 acres, has around 48 stray dogs. The society’s management had earlier allocated Rs 5 lakh to manage the stray dog situation and had appointed a member to handle the issue. However, the appointed individual allegedly harassed animal lovers, leading to physical altercations.

The society’s ongoing efforts to deal with the stray dog issue have sparked a divide among residents, some of whom have voiced opposition to feeding the animals within the premises.

A senior officer from the Pimpri Chinchwad police confirmed that a case has been filed under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 11(1)(c) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The police have initiated an investigation into the matter.