Maharashtra stray dog sterilisation drive: 14.8 lakh dogs, 65,000 neutered in 2026
Synopsis
Maharashtra has 14.8 lakh stray dogs and a dog-bite crisis that added 463 extra cases in just two months in one district. The state's response — dedicated ABC departments in five cities, new shelters in Mumbai, and a Supreme Court-monitored coordination framework — is its most structured intervention yet, but the gap between 65,000 sterilisations and nearly 15 lakh animals on the street tells its own story.
Key Takeaways
Maharashtra has directed all local bodies to enforce sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination under ABC Rules, 2023 and Supreme Court orders.
The state has 14.8 lakh stray dogs , including 94,000 in Mumbai ; 65,000 have been sterilised and 97,960 vaccinated in 2026.
Ahilyanagar district recorded 7,230 dog-bite cases between January–February 2026 , up 463 year-on-year.
Dedicated Animal Birth Control Departments to be set up in Mumbai, Pune, Kalyan-Dombivli, Pimpri-Chinchwad , and Nashik .
Mumbai stray dog shelters to be established within six months ; land identified at Mulund, Malad , and Nahur .
The Department of Animal Husbandry designated as the central coordinating authority for Supreme Court compliance reporting.
The Maharashtra government has launched a statewide crackdown on the stray dog crisis, directing all urban and rural local bodies to strictly enforce sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination programmes in line with the Central Government's Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, and orders of the Supreme Court. The move follows a sharp surge in dog-bite incidents across the state, with official data pointing to a worsening public safety emergency.
Scale of the Problem
Industries Minister Uday Samant revealed during Question Hour in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on 3 July that the state is home to 14.8 lakh stray dogs, of which 94,000 are in Mumbai alone. So far in 2026, 65,000 stray dogs have been sterilised or neutered across Maharashtra, while 97,960 have received anti-rabies vaccines. The debate was triggered by a question from MLA Arjun Khotkar on escalating safety risks, with legislators including Amin Patel, Sneha Dubey, Namita Mundada, and Sana Malik joining the high-decibel exchange.
Alarming Bite Data
The urgency of the situation is underscored by bite statistics from Ahilyanagar (formerly Ahmednagar) district, where 7,230 dog-bite cases were recorded between January and February 2026 alone — an increase of 463 cases over the same period last year. This comes amid wider concerns about stray animals compromising safety at public healthcare facilities, including Dr R N Cooper Hospital in Mumbai, where the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has deployed specialised animal control teams and is conducting regular sterilisation and rabies vaccination drives.
Infrastructure and Institutional Response
The government has committed to setting up dedicated stray dog shelters in Mumbai within the next six months. The Revenue Department has been asked to allocate land at three sites: nearly 3,000 square feet each at Mulund and Malad, and a larger parcel of 8,411 square feet at Nahur. In compliance with Supreme Court recommendations, five major municipal corporations — in Mumbai, Pune, Kalyan-Dombivli, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Nashik — have resolved to establish independent Animal Birth Control Departments.
Coordination and Execution
To eliminate jurisdictional overlaps, the state has issued definitive government resolutions and circulars. The Urban Development Department issued execution orders on 20 March 2025, followed by operational circulars to all municipal bodies on 24 November 2025. The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department issued parallel directives to gram panchayats on 26 and 27 November 2025. The Department of Animal Husbandry has been designated as the central coordinating authority to synchronise operations across all state and local bodies.
On-Ground Results
Minister Samant cited the Jalna Municipal Corporation as a model, where an external agency sterilised and vaccinated 2,245 stray dogs within 320 days of commencing its ABC programme, despite initial logistical delays. The state is expected to use this template to accelerate rollout in lagging districts. With the Supreme Court monitoring compliance, the pace of implementation will face continued scrutiny in the months ahead.
Point of View
000 sterilisations against a population of 14.8 lakh is barely 4% coverage, and the Supreme Court has been pushing states on this for years without decisive action. Maharashtra's five-city ABC department plan and shelter land allocation are structurally sound on paper, but the Jalna case — 2,245 dogs in 320 days by a single agency — shows how slowly the machinery moves at ground level. The real test is whether the Department of Animal Husbandry's coordinating role translates into district-level accountability or remains another layer of bureaucracy. With dog-bite injuries rising and public hospitals already affected, this is a public health failure as much as an animal welfare one.
NationPress
3 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many stray dogs are there in Maharashtra?
According to official census data presented in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, there are 14.8 lakh stray dogs in the state, with 94,000 in Mumbai alone. So far in 2026, 65,000 have been sterilised and 97,960 vaccinated against rabies.
Why has Maharashtra launched this stray dog sterilisation drive?
The drive was triggered by a sharp rise in dog-bite incidents and Supreme Court directives mandating compliance with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023. In Ahilyanagar district alone, 7,230 bite cases were recorded in just January–February 2026, up 463 from the same period last year.
Which cities will get dedicated Animal Birth Control Departments?
Five municipal corporations — Mumbai, Pune, Kalyan-Dombivli, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Nashik — have resolved to establish independent ABC Departments, as recommended by the Supreme Court. These will operate as standalone wings separate from general municipal functions.
When will the new stray dog shelters in Mumbai be ready?
The Maharashtra government has committed to establishing dedicated stray dog shelters in Mumbai within six months. The Revenue Department has been asked to allocate land at Mulund, Malad, and Nahur, with parcels of approximately 3,000 sq ft each at the first two sites and 8,411 sq ft at Nahur.
Who is coordinating Maharashtra's stray dog programme at the state level?
The Department of Animal Husbandry has been designated as the central coordinating authority, responsible for synchronising operations across all state and local government bodies and ensuring a cohesive compliance report to the Supreme Court.
