Students and young citizens in Bengaluru have urged the Karnataka government to prioritise Animal Birth Control (ABC) sterilisation and Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV) programmes over the proposed construction of five pounds for community dogs. The demand was made by Students For Streeties at a press meet on Saturday, where participants also sought greater transparency on the proposed facilities.
The group appealed to Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to reconsider the proposed pounds as permanent confinement facilities. Instead, it suggested that existing infrastructure be used for sterilisation, vaccination, veterinary treatment, rehabilitation and the responsible release of community dogs.
Students For Streeties said information should be made public on the proposed facilities, including their construction costs, budgets, tenders, staffing requirements, maintenance arrangements and implementation timelines. The demand places the proposed pounds within a wider question of how public money is allocated for urban animal management and how such facilities would operate after construction.
The group also called for public funds to be directed towards expanding and monitoring ABC and ARV programmes across Karnataka’s 31 districts. It said a state-wide focus on sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination would provide a longer-term approach to managing dog populations while addressing public health concerns.
The press meet brought together animal welfare activists, legal professionals, students and volunteers. Participants urged the government to consult students, citizens, animal welfare organisations and veterinary professionals before implementing large-scale infrastructure projects related to community dogs.
Students For Streeties said humane and science-based dog population management could help balance public health, animal welfare and community concerns. It also argued that healthy dogs should not face prolonged confinement and that the proposed facilities should not become permanent shelters without a clearly defined operational framework.
The group’s appeal comes as Bengaluru considers the proposed establishment of five pounds for dogs from institutional areas. The report did not provide details of the government’s construction plans, budgets, tendering process, staffing model or implementation schedule. The group’s recommendations include using existing infrastructure for veterinary and rehabilitation services and strengthening ABC and ARV delivery across the state. A community dog named Ramu from St Mark’s Road was also present at the meeting.
