Mysuru Ramps Up Stray Dog Management Amid Growing Population Concerns
The Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) has significantly intensified its efforts to control the city's stray dog population, which currently stands at approximately 23,400 animals within municipal limits. This decisive action comes in response to an alarming average of three to five dog-bite cases reported daily, highlighting urgent public health and safety risks, particularly concerning rabies transmission.
Census Data Drives Targeted Sterilization Campaign
A comprehensive stray dog census conducted in April 2025 has provided the critical foundation for MCC's current strategic initiatives. In the preceding financial year, the civic body successfully sterilized 3,198 dogs, and since January of this year, an additional 1,016 dogs have undergone the procedure, demonstrating a sustained and escalating commitment to population management.
Official Statements Outline Multi-Pronged Approach
MCC Executive Engineer KS Mruthyunjaya confirmed the corporation's escalated sterilization and vaccination drive. "As per the Supreme Court order, MCC has identified two feeding zones in every ward," he stated, emphasizing compliance with judicial directives. Furthermore, work is actively progressing to establish a dedicated care centre at Rayanakere, designed specifically to relocate dogs found in high-traffic public institutions such as hospitals, government offices, railway stations, and bus stands. "A survey identified over 400 such dogs, which will be relocated once the facility is operational," Mruthyunjaya added.
Statewide Context and Government Initiatives
Details of Mysuru's local efforts were shared in the state assembly as part of a broader presentation on stray dog management across Karnataka. Municipal Administration Minister Rahim Khan, responding to a query from MLA Suresh Babu CB regarding the stray dog menace, revealed extensive statewide progress. Since 2022, the government has sterilized over 1.2 lakh (120,000) stray dogs and vaccinated over 1.4 lakh (140,000) dogs against rabies throughout the state.
The minister clarified that these measures are being implemented under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Regulations, 2023. All urban local bodies have been instructed to conduct thorough surveys of stray dogs, followed by systematic sterilization and anti-rabies vaccination programs. Statewide surveys, conducted in alignment with Supreme Court directions, identified 17,262 stray dogs residing within 17,654 institutions, including the aforementioned hospitals, bus stands, and railway stations.
Substantial Financial Allocations for Infrastructure
To support these ambitious initiatives, the state government has allocated significant funding. Over Rs 12.1 crore has been designated for 13 municipal corporations, and more than Rs 21.5 crore has been provided to 301 urban local bodies. These funds are specifically earmarked for establishing essential infrastructure such as dog shelters and kennels, facilitating humane and effective management of the stray animal population across Karnataka.
