Administration struggles to take control point residents

The menace of stray dogs continues to escalate in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) area, with reports of attacks on citizens raising alarms about the lack of effective control by the administration. Recently, a woman in Titwala was severely injured when a stray dog attacked her, breaking her limbs. In another incident, an 8-year-old boy, Arthav Srivastava, from Kalyan West, was bitten on his lip by a stray dog that lunged at him. Despite several such incidents in recent months, the administration’s failure to manage the increasing number of stray dogs has left residents in fear.

Citizens are increasingly concerned about their safety as packs of stray dogs, sometimes numbering 15 to 20, roam the streets, particularly around Kalyan station at night. Passers-by are often left with no option but to run from these aggressive packs. The question on everyone’s mind is: Why is the administration unable to tackle this growing issue?

The responsibility for managing stray dogs lies with the municipal administration. According to KDMC officials, the administration has been working in coordination with the Jivaraksha Animal Welfare Trust to catch and sterilize stray dogs. These dogs are then vaccinated against rabies, provided food, and kept under observation before being released back to their original locations. However, the strategy has failed to curb the stray dog population.

In 2024, from January 1 to November 30, KDMC reported that 12,406 stray dogs were sterilized at a cost of Rs. 1 crore 22 lakh 69 thousand 534. Despite this significant expenditure, the number of stray dogs remains unchanged, raising doubts about the effectiveness of the program. Even more alarming, from January to October 2024, 18,705 cases of dog bites and rabies vaccinations were reported in the area. In 2023, 18,939 such incidents were recorded. These figures underscore the growing risk to public health posed by the increasing stray dog population.

The issue of stray dogs is compounded by the widespread practice of garbage dumping along roadsides, which attracts dogs looking for food. The lack of a proper waste management system exacerbates the situation, allowing stray dogs to thrive in urban areas.