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India’s Bengaluru aims to microchip 140,000 stray dogs, sparking concerns by animal activists

  • Animal welfare activists say the city is ill-equipped to carry out the massive scheme and are worried about the health impact on stray dogs
  • With an annual average of up to 20,000 dog bite incidents in Bengaluru, officials see microchipping as key in controlling the stray canine population

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A stray dog walks on a road in Lucknow, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Photo: AP

Indian technology hub Bengaluru plans to implant microchips in about 140,000 stray dogs to curb their population, but animal welfare activists fear authorities are ill-equipped to carry out the massive scheme and its health impact on the canines.

The city has long grappled with problems stemming from free-roaming dogs, including frequent dog bites, dogs chasing vehicles and – on several rare occasions – strays mauling children to death.

While smaller towns such as Panaji and Tiruchirappalli have experimented with microchip implants, Bengaluru is the first major city in India to undertake such a scheme on a large scale.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the agency in Bengaluru responsible for civic issues, often receives complaints about dogs barking incessantly at night, damaging parked vehicles, and causing traffic disruptions and accidents.

Placing microchips under dogs’ skin outside of a sterile operating room environment could be disastrous, campaigners warn, but some vets say it’s no more complicated than an injection. Photo: Shutterstock
Placing microchips under dogs’ skin outside of a sterile operating room environment could be disastrous, campaigners warn, but some vets say it’s no more complicated than an injection. Photo: Shutterstock

Suralkar Vikas Kishor, BBMP’s special commissioner for health and animal husbandry, said microchipping will help identify stray dogs accurately and keep their numbers in check.

“The microchip technology is a globally proven method for stray and pet animal identification,” Kishor said.

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