Ahmedabad, the bustling city of Gujarat, is grappling with a severe stray dog crisis. With over 2.1 lakh stray dogs roaming the streets, the city’s infrastructure cannot adequately house them. Recent government directives have intensified the debate around how to handle this growing population of stray dogs and the safety issues they present to citizens.
In a recent Supreme Court ruling, the focus has shifted towards the humane treatment of stray dogs. The court has ordered authorities to capture and relocate these animals to designated shelters. However, animal welfare activists argue that the proposed measures are insufficient. Riddhi Sanghavi, a trustee of the Masoom Charitable Trust, has filed a petition against the ruling. She described the confinement of stray dogs as “inhuman” and called for a focus on sterilisation and vaccination instead of building expensive shelters.
Public safety remains a significant concern. In the first half of 2025 alone, there were 43,713 reported dog bite cases in Ahmedabad. This alarming statistic highlights the urgent need for effective management strategies. Some politicians, like Congress MLA Imran Khedawala, have pointed fingers at a shortage of rabies vaccines in hospitals, while the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) insists that health centres are well-stocked.
Despite spending ₹12.70 crore over the past five years on sterilisation efforts, the stray dog population continues to rise. During this period, the AMC managed to sterilise only 1,33,156 dogs. Residents frequently encounter aggressive packs of dogs, creating dangerous situations on the roads. The AMC’s Cattle Nuisance Control Department (CNCD) has plans to convert a cattle shed in Vastral into a dog shelter, but this facility will only accommodate 90 dogs, which is far from adequate given the city’s pressing needs.
The AMC has made pet dog registration mandatory, raising fees significantly from ₹200 to ₹2,000. So far, 18,353 pets have been registered. The funds collected will be directed towards dog welfare efforts, including new shelters and health camps. However, many residents feel that these actions are not enough to combat the growing stray dog population.
The situation has worsened recently, with nearly 5,000 dog bite cases reported monthly. Between April and early August, the city received a staggering number of complaints about stray dogs. In April, there were 727 complaints, with numbers increasing to 1,395 in July. However, the sterilisation efforts have not kept pace, with only 2,412 dogs sterilised during this time. This discrepancy underscores the urgency of the issue and the need for a comprehensive strategy to manage the stray dog population.
The AMC’s expenditure on stray dog control has reached over ₹9.36 crore in three years. Despite this investment, residents report feeling unsafe due to the increasing presence of aggressive dogs. The AMC spends ₹976.50 per dog to relocate strays, highlighting the financial burden of managing the crisis. Critics argue that the ongoing measures are inadequate and demand more effective solutions to ensure public safety.
As the city grapples with this pressing issue, residents are calling for more humane and effective strategies. The focus should be on sterilisation and vaccination to prevent future generations of stray dogs from overwhelming the streets. With proper management, it is possible to strike a balance between public safety and the welfare of animals. The increasing number of stray dogs poses a challenge for Ahmedabad, but with community involvement and effective policies, a solution can be found.