Data from the Deonar Abattoir office of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reveals a significant increase in reported dog bite cases in the city from 2020 to 2023. The information highlights serious concerns for public safety and animal welfare and underscores the need for immediate action to address the growing issue of dog bites in the city, activists say.

The data obtained through an RTI query filed with the BMC Veterinary Health Department at Deonar Abattoir, social activist Jeetendra Ghadge revealed that dog bites reported at the four licencing establishments, rising from 610 in 2020 to 1,141 in 2022, with a slight dip to 1,123 in 2023. Notably, stray dogs account for all incidents. According to Ghadge of  the Young Whistleblowers Foundation, the information indicates a worrying trend with implications for public safety and animal welfare.