Have Mumbai’s stray dogs doubled in 10 years?

A man feeds stray dogs in Chunabhatti. File pic/Pradeep Dhivar

The census of street dogs has been further delayed and is supposed to start in January 2024, but according to calculations based on data from 2014, BMC officials claim the number in Mumbai might have almost doubled. There were about 95,127 stray dogs in Mumbai in 2014 and the number is now estimated to be around 1.64 lakh. Interestingly, the BMC aims to vaccinate one lakh stray dogs against rabies in 10 days.

"There hasn't been a census of stray dogs since 2014. But as per population growth ratio, male/female ratio and sterilisation, we have come to this no - 1.64 lakh. A census will give the correct picture," said Kalimpasha Pathan, general manager of the Deonar abattoir of the BMC.

Now, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken an initiative to target vaccinating one lakh stray dogs in Mumbai within 10 days and to make Mumbai ‘rabies free'. The BMC has signed an MOU with Mission Rabies and its sister charity Worldwide Veterinary Services (WVS). As per this agreement, about 1 lakh stray dogs in Mumbai will be vaccinated against rabies every year. "It is necessary to administer rabies vaccines to these stray dogs so that they do not get infected with the disease and citizens do not suffer from it. Both organizations are going to provide free services for this initiative," said an official from the BMC.

The BMC has already been vaccinating stray dogs but this MoU will speed this up. As per the MoU, this initiative will start in September 2023. A census of stray dogs in the city will be conducted in January 2024. Based on that survey, a large-scale rabies vaccination campaign will also be undertaken in February 2024.

As part of the initiative, expert volunteers from abroad associated with Mission Rabies will come to Mumbai to survey (for the census) and vaccinate stray dogs in Mumbai. This includes 100 teams of hand catchers and 20 teams of net catchers. About 450 to 600 people will be required to vaccinate 1 lakh stray dogs in Mumbai. The help of various colleges and NGOs will also be taken to supply this manpower.

Supply of vaccines, vehicles arrangements for the volunteers in the city will be made by the BMC. Food, accommodation and remuneration for the volunteers will be arranged by Worldwide Veterinary Services.

95,127
No of stray dogs in Mumbai in 2014