Pune: PMC Identifies 2,843 Spots With Stray Dogs, Plans Four Large Shelters
Pune, 26th November 2025: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has begun implementing a large-scale plan to capture stray dogs and relocate them to designated shelters, following directions issued by the Supreme Court. A recent survey by the civic body has identified stray dog presence at 2,843 locations across the city, with the population estimated between 1 lakh and 1.25 lakh.
According to PMC officials, the project is expected to cost between ₹150 crore and ₹200 crore. The expenditure will include dog-catching operations, sterilisation and vaccination drives, construction of shelters, food supply, staffing, and veterinary care. Each shelter will require between three and five acres of land, and PMC plans to establish facilities in all four zones of the city. For the first shelter, land parcels in Bhugaon and Shindewadi are under consideration.
The Supreme Court recently expressed concern over the rising number of dog bite incidents in Maharashtra. Data submitted before the court showed that over 7 lakh people in rural areas and 5,920 in urban municipal jurisdictions suffered dog bites. The court criticised the inadequate sterilisation and vaccination efforts, noting that several centres were non-functional.
Following this, the state government directed all municipal corporations to take responsibility for stray dog management. The Court has also asked civic bodies to identify key public areas such as schools, hospitals, sports grounds, bus stands and railway stations for special monitoring.
While PMC has been conducting sterilisation, officials admit that vaccinations and overall population control remain insufficient. Earlier, sterilised dogs were released back to the same location. However, the updated order mandates that stray dogs must now be kept in shelters permanently.
A previous plan to build a dog pound was stalled due to opposition from residents near the proposed site. With the latest Supreme Court guidelines, the civic body will now have to create a comprehensive rehabilitation system for stray animals across Pune.
