A symbolic dog-mask protest at Khandwa's District Collector office on 20 August 2026 has thrust the Municipal Corporation's Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme into the spotlight, with opposition leaders alleging irregularities and civic officials defending the sterilisation process as transparent and rule-bound. The controversy surfaces against a public health backdrop: 244 dog-bite cases were treated at the District Hospital in July alone.

The Protest That Started It All

Municipal Corporation Leader of Opposition Deepak Rathore arrived at the District Collector's public grievance hearing on Wednesday accompanied by a young man dressed in a dog costume, demanding accountability over the Corporation's stray dog control measures. Rathore alleged irregularities in the sterilisation programme and questioned its effectiveness in curbing the stray dog menace across the city.

A video of the demonstration circulated on social media, drawing responses from both dog-bite victims and animal welfare advocates. District Collector Rishav Gupta criticised the form of the demonstration, saying such publicity stunts were inappropriate at a public grievance forum.

Corporation Defends the ABC Programme

Municipal Commissioner Priyanka Rajawat rejected the allegations, saying sterilisation work was being conducted at the ABC Centre through an agency selected via a prescribed online tender process. 'The allegations are completely baseless because the sterilisation work is carried out at the ABC Centre. The organisation operating the centre is selected through an online tender process,' she said.

Rajawat added that only organisations recognised by the Animal Welfare Board of India are eligible to participate in the tender, and the contract is awarded to the lowest-quoting eligible agency — a standard procurement safeguard.

Sterilisation Numbers Since 2022

According to Corporation records, 9,391 dogs have been sterilised since the ABC Centre became operational in 2022. The year-wise breakdown: 1,686 in 2022, 440 in 2023, 3,651 in 2024, 2,387 in 2025, and 1,623 so far in 2026. The Corporation said its dog squad collects animals from across the city, veterinarians perform the procedures, and dogs are kept under post-operative care for approximately four days before being ear-marked and released.

Notably, the figures show a sharp dip in 2023 followed by a significant surge in 2024 — a variation that has not been publicly explained and may itself invite scrutiny.

Public Health Dimension

District Rabies Control Officer Yogesh Sharma underscored the health stakes, noting that 244 dog-bite cases were treated at the District Hospital last month alone. This figure points to the gap between the sterilisation programme's reported output and its on-ground impact on stray dog density and aggression — a concern shared by residents and health officials alike.

Opposition Stands Firm

Rathore, defending his protest, maintained that if irregularities were proven, systemic reform was necessary. 'If corruption is taking place in the name of dogs, concrete action should be taken. The system under which these sterilisation procedures are being carried out should be changed so that neither the dogs nor humans face any problems,' he said.

With the Corporation's records now in the public domain and health officials flagging bite statistics, the Khandwa ABC Centre's functioning is likely to remain under watch in the weeks ahead.