In a significant move to address the city's stray dog population, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has initiated the first phase of implementing the Supreme Court's guidelines for managing canines in public spaces. The action follows a circular issued on Tuesday, directing the swift appointment of nodal officers across all civic body-owned buildings.
Nodal Officers To Lead The Drive
The newly appointed nodal officers will shoulder critical responsibilities under the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India. Their duties will include restricting the entry of stray dogs into AMC premises, conducting detailed surveys of dog presence, preventing feeding on campuses, reporting all dog-bite incidents, and coordinating sterilization and relocation efforts. An AMC official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that this model will later extend to state government, semi-government, and other public buildings in a phased manner.
A City Grappling With Scale And Shelter Shortage
The challenge is immense. A 2019 AMC survey estimated Ahmedabad's stray dog population to be around 2.1 lakh (210,000). Despite the Supreme Court's order to remove strays from educational institutions, hospitals, bus stands, and other public places, the city's current shelter capacity is severely inadequate. Municipal shelters can house only 400 to 500 dogs, a tiny fraction of the need. While construction of new shelters is underway, officials admit that enforcing the SC order will be difficult without sufficient infrastructure to relocate the animals.
Stray dogs are a common sight in major public buildings. Sources report 20 to 25 dogs inside the AMC's Old City office, 40 to 50 on the Gujarat University campus, and significant numbers at Geeta Mandir and Ranip bus depots, Kalupur railway station, and Civil and VS Hospitals.
Rising Bite Cases Underline Urgency
The need for effective management is underscored by alarming dog bite statistics. Official data reveals that Ahmedabad recorded a staggering 3 lakh (300,000) dog bite cases between January 2021 and June 2025. The first six months of 2025 alone accounted for 43,713 cases. Recent incidents include three residents of a Paldi society being bitten, and a city corporator sustaining a leg injury from a stray dog attack. In the Paldi case, AMC teams located and captured the dog, shifting it to a shelter.
With new rules expected to be formalized within two weeks, the AMC's initial step of appointing nodal officers marks the beginning of a long and complex implementation journey, balancing public safety with animal welfare in India's bustling megacity.
