Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, July 23: The street dog population in Udupi has crossed manageable limits, raising concerns over public safety and animal welfare. Frequent sightings of stray dogs on busy roads have led to vehicle accidents, causing anxiety among commuters and pedestrians.

Packs of stray dogs are now commonly seen in several key locations across the city, including the Sri Krishna Math parking area, Rajangana, Car Street, Chittaranjan Circle, city bus stand, service bus stand, NARMA bus stand, old and new government bus stands, district hospital premises, Ajjarkad Park, Mahatma Gandhi Stadium, Beedinagudde open-air theatre, fish market, Adi Udupi Market, and Indrali railway station, among other prominent spots and outer areas.

While it is universally accepted that all living beings have the right to life, the responsibility to ensure a safe and healthy environment for them lies with the administration. Citizens have therefore appealed to the district and city authorities to identify suitable land on the outskirts of Udupi to set up a dedicated rehabilitation centre for street dogs.

Such a centre would offer food, medical care, and shelter, promoting both public safety and animal welfare. Incidents of dogs chasing or biting pedestrians are reported from time to time, further adding to public concern. While citizens are inconvenienced by the growing presence of stray dogs, the animals themselves endure severe hardships due to lack of food, shelter, and medical attention.

Animal lovers occasionally feed stray dogs with biscuits, but these half-meals fall short of meeting their nutritional needs. Many of these dogs are injured in road accidents, often left disabled and helpless. With no shelters to protect them from harsh weather or abuse by miscreants, their condition remains dire.

Social worker Nithyanand Volakad said, “The street dog population is increasing rapidly. Even the courts have stated that feeding street animals is not the public’s responsibility but that of the city municipality. When I was a councillor, a decision was made to build a rehabilitation centre at Beedinagudde, but no steps were taken. As per a Supreme Court order, there is government land available in Manipal where such a centre can still be set up. Dogs are just as important as cows and can be fed with leftover food from hotels. The real issue begins when people feed them biscuits instead.”

Mahantesh Hangaragi, city municipal commissioner, said, “We have invited tenders for the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme three times, but received no responses. We are now calling for a fourth tender, and whichever agency responds will be finalised to carry out the work as per government directives. In the Manipal region, a private agency has already come forward and we have permitted them to implement the programme following government guidelines. In other areas, the ABC programme will begin once the tender process is completed.”

Establishing a street dog rehabilitation centre is increasingly being viewed as a long-term solution that balances public safety with the humane treatment of stray dogs, ensuring they are cared for with dignity and compassion.