BBMP covers 1,000 more dogs under new feeding initiative in Bengaluru

The health department of the civic body will soon come up with a plan to observe these dogs for behavioural changes. Dog biting cases will also be tracked.

The health department of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has covered 1,000 more dogs under its ambitious dog feeding programme to take care of strays and reduce aggression caused due to hunger. 

The BBMP had launched this pilot programme in select areas across eight zones in Bengaluru on October 17. Initially, the civic body was feeding 100 dogs.

Under the initiative, pourakarmikas, health officials, animal husbandry officers, animal lovers, pet owners, and interested citizens are working together to collect leftover food from hotels and restaurants to feed stray dogs. The primary goal is to provide food to community dogs in areas where they lack access to regular meals, with food being distributed once a day.

BBMP Special Commissioner (Health) Surakar Vikas Kishor told The Hindu, “The feeding programme for 100 dogs was successful. Now, it has become a daily habit for the dogs to come to the designated area at the time of feeding. From the last week, we have increased the designated areas in eight zones. We have now covered 1,000 more dogs.”

Asked about any changes in behaviour among the dogs covered under this initiative, he said the BBMP has so far neither made any observation nor generated data on dog bite cases in these areas.

The health department of the civic body will soon come up with a plan to observe these dogs for behavioural changes. Dog biting cases will also be tracked. “The city has more than 2.50 lakh dogs. With 100 dogs, the sample survey is very less,” he added.