A recent, harrowing incident in Belagavi, where a two-year-old child was critically injured in a stray dog attack, has jolted the city's administration into swift action. The attack, which occurred in the Azad Nagar area, sparked significant public anger and demands for immediate measures to control the stray dog population.
Administration Convenes Stakeholders for Action Plan
Responding to the crisis, District Commissioner Mohammad Roshan announced a crucial meeting scheduled for Friday. The meeting will bring together NGOs, animal welfare organisations, dog lovers, and other stakeholders at his office to formulate a comprehensive action plan. Roshan stressed that managing stray dogs is a collective responsibility requiring coordinated efforts from the administration, civic bodies, and the public.
"We welcome constructive and practical suggestions from NGOs and animal lovers to implement humane and sustainable solutions in line with Supreme Court guidelines," DC Roshan stated. The plan will adhere strictly to directives from the Supreme Court of India.
Data-Driven Strategy and New Shelter Ready for Operation
The administration is basing its strategy on concrete data. A detailed stray dog census conducted in November 2025, as per Supreme Court orders, revealed that Belagavi district has 22,130 stray dogs, with 2,536 residing within city limits.
A key component of the solution is now ready. The Belagavi City Corporation has completed construction of a dedicated stray dog shelter and care centre on a two-acre plot in Hirebagewadi. Officials confirmed that while work was in progress earlier, the construction is now finished. Sterilisation surgeries are set to begin within the next four days, pending the installation of remaining equipment.
Mayor Mangesh Pawar, along with senior officials, personally visited the Hirebagewadi centre on Monday to review preparedness. The mayor directed officials to ensure no further delays in installing equipment and starting the sterilisation process, acknowledging the public's growing anger over the rise in stray dog attacks.
Facility Capacity and Additional Measures
The new facility has the capacity to accommodate between 700 to 800 dogs. The process will involve treating about 300 dogs under categories A, B, and C before releasing them back to their original habitats. DC Roshan clarified that the dogs would be shifted to designated shelter and care centres set up by the city corporation and other local bodies.
In a parallel move to address the root causes of aggression, the city corporation has decided to establish at least two designated feeding zones for stray dogs in each ward. Authorities cited hunger as a major factor contributing to aggressive behaviour in animals.
As an immediate relief measure, the corporation also announced a compensation of Rs 50,000 for the family of the injured two-year-old child. This multi-pronged approach aims to tackle the issue humanely while ensuring public safety.
