The Shimla Municipal Corporation is in a catch-22 situation over the stray dog menace in the Queen of Hills — a state capital and an international tourist destination.
The number of stray dogs has been increasing in Shimla due to the absence of a sustainable animal birth control programme for many years. Cases of dog bites are also on the rise. In the midst of growing public pressure to tackle the issue, the MC authorities recently received a stern phone call from former Union Minister and activist Maneka Gandhi, warning them not to act against any legal provisions regarding stray dogs.
The issue came into sharp focus earlier this month when a pack of stray dogs attacked two schoolchildren near the Dhalli tunnel ahead of the Sanjauli area. The children sustained multiple dog bites and were rushed to Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital with serious injuries.
The father of one of the victims, who is also a social activist, strongly criticised the MC authorities for their inaction. He called off his protest only after the Mayor assured him that the matter would be treated as a priority.
Shimla has long struggled with the twin issues of stray dogs and monkeys. Despite repeated public outrage, sterilisation programmes for both animals — the monkey programme handled by the forest department and the dog programme by the MC — have failed to make a significant impact, largely due to lack of staff, inadequate facilities, and a general absence of political will.
According to official records, an average of 150 dog bite cases are reported in Shimla every month. Packs of aggressive dogs are frequently seen roaming the city, including on the posh Mall Road. The MC doesn’t even have updated data on the city’s dog population — the last survey was conducted over a decade ago. Attempts to initiate a new survey have not yielded results. The situation is further complicated by interactions between stray dogs, monkeys, and other wildlife around the city, increasing the risk of rabies in every bite unless treated properly.
“It becomes scary to walk through Shimla’s localities with children when packs of dogs are roaming freely,” said Seema, a local mother who walks 3 kilometres daily to drop and pick up her six-year-old son from school. “Most children don’t know how to respond and start running when they see aggressive dogs, which often leads to bites. The problem seems to have worsened in recent years. Authorities must do something about it.” She also noted the lack of public awareness on how to behave around stray dogs.
The issue was recently raised in the Shimla MC House, where opposition councillors accused the Corporation of not taking the matter seriously enough.
“We can’t help it — the matter is in court. Whenever the MC takes any action, animal protection activists respond with threats. So what do we do?” said a senior MC official.
Sources within the MC revealed that dog sterilisation efforts have largely stalled in recent months due to a shortage of veterinary doctors and support staff, both in the Corporation and at the dog shelter.
However, in the absence of government veterinary personnel, the MC has recently engaged a private veterinary professional to resume dog sterilisation and attempt to bring the stray population under control.
Experts believe that piecemeal efforts will not solve the issue. “The Shimla MC must coordinate with the state government to implement inter-departmental efforts aimed at permanently addressing the dog menace,” they said. “A one-health approach — combining human, animal, and environmental health strategies within the legal framework — is urgently needed to address the various dimensions of this crisis.”
Follow us
