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.