Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
A four-year-old girl, Ayesha Syed, was seriously injured after being attacked by aggressive stray dogs at Naregaon in the early hours of Saturday, February 28. Following the incident, the issue of stray dogs has once again come to the forefront. Citizens have begun questioning what action the municipal corporation will take to address the growing menace.
The municipal administration has decided to make permanent arrangements to house 2,000 stray dogs at shelters near the railway station and the Central Jakat Naka. The construction of these shelters is expected to be completed within the next two months. In addition, one more agency will be appointed to strengthen the sterilisation drive.
The exact number of stray dogs in the city has remained a long-standing question for decades. Since 1995–2000, the municipal corporation has consistently stated that there are between 40,000 and 50,000 stray dogs in the city. However, officials have no clear answer on whether this number has increased or decreased over the years.
On October 8, 2025, a three-year-old boy, Armaan Shaikh, died after being attacked by stray dogs at Jafar Gate. Last month, a young girl was injured in a similar attack at Baijipura. Now, another serious incident has occurred at Naregaon. Angry citizens are demanding to know what concrete measures the civic body is taking to tackle the stray dog problem.
22 dogs currently confined
At present, 22 aggressive dogs have been captured and kept at the railway station facility, which has a capacity to house 100 dogs. The administration plans to create facilities to permanently house a total of 2,000 aggressive dogs at the railway station and the Jakat naka. The primary responsibility will be to provide food and shelter. The shelters are expected to be operational within two months, informed municipal veterinary officer Dr Shahed Shaikh.
Sterilisation programme to be expanded
Currently, sterilisation is being carried out through a single agency. Another agency will soon be appointed to accelerate the programme and help bring the stray dog population under control. The process is expected to be finalised in the coming days.
11,000 dogs sterilised
Over the past three years, the municipal corporation has sterilised 11,660 dogs. Of these, 4,454 were sterilised in 2023–24, 4,563 in 2024–25, and 2,643 so far in 2025–26, according to the animal husbandry department.