Chandigarh Is Logging Over 100 Dog Bites a Day
The City Deserves Answers
The Voice of Chandigarh | Pari Jain
Chandigarh, often celebrated as one of India’s most planned and livable cities, is today facing a growing public safety concern that can no longer be ignored. The rising number of stray dog attacks across the city has created fear among residents, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of existing control measures and the accountability of civic authorities.
Official figures reveal that Chandigarh recorded more than 36,000 dog-bite cases in the past year, averaging well over 100 incidents every single day. The numbers alone are alarming, but what is even more concerning is the growing sense of helplessness among citizens who continue to face these dangers in residential sectors, parks, markets, schools, and public spaces.
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Despite repeated complaints from residents, the response from authorities has largely remained limited to assurances and temporary measures. The Municipal Corporation continues to cite sterilisation programmes and stray dog management initiatives as signs of progress. Thousands of dogs have reportedly been sterilised over the years under the Animal Birth Control programme, and officials claim that the stray population has reduced significantly.
However, the reality visible on Chandigarh’s streets tells a different story.
If the situation is truly under control, why are residents still afraid to walk in their own neighbourhoods? Why are children and elderly citizens increasingly becoming vulnerable to attacks? And why does the issue continue to escalate despite years of expenditure and policy discussions?
The administration’s recent proposal to establish a large dog shelter facility and relocate stray dogs from sensitive zones such as schools and hospitals itself reflects the seriousness of the crisis. These steps, though necessary, also underline the fact that the existing system has failed to deliver lasting results.
At the same time, this issue should not be reduced to a conflict between humans and animals. Stray dogs themselves are victims of abandonment, poor urban management, unchecked breeding, hunger, disease, and neglect. The problem exists not because animals belong on the streets, but because systems meant to manage the situation have lacked consistency, urgency, and long-term planning.
What Chandigarh needs now is not political statements or routine assurances, but a transparent and scientific action plan backed by measurable outcomes. Residents deserve access to ward-wise sterilisation data, vaccination records, population mapping, and timelines for implementation. Public awareness campaigns, stronger shelter infrastructure, quicker emergency response systems, and responsible waste management must become part of a comprehensive strategy rather than isolated initiatives.
The issue is no longer merely administrative; it is directly linked to public health and civic safety.
Chandigarh has the resources, infrastructure, and institutional capacity to address this challenge effectively. What remains missing is decisive execution and accountability. A city that prides itself on planning and governance cannot afford to normalise over 100 dog-bite incidents every day.
The people of Chandigarh deserve safer streets, transparent governance, and meaningful action.
And they deserve it now.
