A Compassionate Path Forward: Protecting Karnataka's Street Dogs While Safeguarding Our Communities
- The CJ Memorial Trust
- Aug 14
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 25
To the People and Government of Karnataka, Fellow Animal Lovers, and Concerned Citizens,
The recent discourse surrounding street dogs, amplified by the Supreme Court's observations and the troubling path taken by Delhi, weighs heavily on our hearts. It implies a false choice – that caring deeply for animals means neglecting human safety. Nothing could be further from the truth. We, the animal lovers and advocates of Karnataka, stand unequivocally committed to both human well-being and animal welfare. We want to step up as citizens, NGO's corporates and government to make this happen. Our hearts break equally at the tragedy of a severe bite or a human life lost to rabies , and also at the thought of indiscriminate cruelty inflicted on sentient beings who share our streets. This shared pain is precisely why we champion the scientifically proven, compassionate, and effective solution:
Aggressive, Accelerated, and Accountable ABC & ARV (Animal Birth Control and Anti-Rabies Vaccination).
Karnataka has the opportunity, the compassion, and the nascent framework to become a national beacon for humane street dog management. We have already made a significant start - by writing detailed letters and meeting with the AHVS Secretary Rohini Sindhuri, UDD Secretary Deepa Cholan and KAWB Member Secretary Dr Srinivas as well as Spl Commissioner Vikas Suralkar. A detailed discussion and letter with recommendation for city action, ABC ARV ramp up was shared and he was very receptive.. We have asked for more focused effort and also for a State ABC Monitoring Committee Meeting asap. We have requested meetings with the Chief CommissionerBBMP , Chief Secretary and even the Chief Minister. We are not sitting on our hands. Work has started.
We must act decisively, collaboratively, and with unwavering urgency to ensure our state never contemplates the cruel and ineffective "Delhi way." Let's go the Bhutan way instead where a 100% vaccination & neuter was achieved in just over a decade. Here is our collective path forward:
1. Embrace ABC/ARV as the Only Humane and Effective Solution:
Reject Removal and Shelters as Solutions: The Supreme Court's suggestion of large-scale sheltering is born of understandable frustration but ignores harsh realities. As CJ Memorial Trust's analysis shows, mass sheltering is often a death sentence disguised as compassion. It inflicts immense suffering: traumatic capture, overcrowding, disease outbreaks, fights, depression, and neglect due to inevitable resource constraints. It does not solve the root causes and is unsustainable for Karnataka's dog population.
The Chief Minister's clear stance against removal is correct and must be our foundation "Treating stray dogs as a nuisance to be removed is not governance. It is cruelty. Humane societies find solutions that protect people and animals. Sterilisation, vaccination, and community care work. Fear-driven measures only create more sufferings, not safety'
Hyperlocal Squads: The Engine of Success: Our model of focused, hyperlocal ABC ARV squads, pioneered effectively in parts of Bangalore, works. This targeted approach ensures efficient sterilization and vaccination, directly impacting the dogs in specific communities, reducing bites, preventing rabies, and stabilizing populations. The squads also promote adoption and rescue , largely of Indie street dogs. We must dial up the adoption efforts. This model must be the standard, scaled aggressively state-wide.
A separate Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Community Dogs involved in Bite Incidents - this will help us address the issue on ground and do it more effectively by working with caretaker/feeder and BBMP. An excellent and carefully articulated SOP has been developed by BHARCS (run by Sindhoor Pangal and team) after years of research abnd academic frameworks. This can address the issue at its roots .
2. Turbocharge Implementation: Building State-Wide Capacity & Transparency:
A detailed circular was already released in 6 Feb 2023 clearly asking for ramp up of neuter/vaccination across the state. Points 8 & 9 clearly stated: 8. Urban Local Bodies should mandatorily allocate appropriate funds in the budget every year from their own resources and implement the KTPP as per the Act. 9. In case of lapses/irresponsibility in the local bodies in implementing the directions in the circular, disciplinary action will be taken against the concerned officials as per the rules.
Massive Capacity Building: The current infrastructure across Karnataka's 31 districts is woefully inadequate. We must urgently:
Ramp Up AWBI Contractors & AHVS Vets: Streamline registration, provide training, and create incentives to dramatically increase the number of qualified teams.
Replicate Success Models: Immediately deploy learnings and structures from successful programs like HSI collaborations in Belgaum, Dharwad, and Uttarakhand across all districts.
Dedicated State Budget & Resources: The state government must allocate significant, dedicated funds specifically for ABCARV implementation, logistics (vans, equipment), and personnel across all districts. This is not optional; it's essential public health and animal welfare.
Uncompromising Transparency & Accountability:
* Real-Time Public Dashboard: Implement a mandatory, state-wide, real-time digital dashboard tracking ABCARV metrics: dogs sterilized/vaccinated per zone/district, ARV stocks at centres, bite cases reported, funds utilized. This builds public trust and holds implementing agencies accountable.
Regular Audits: Independent audits of ABCARV programs and shelters (for truly problematic cases) must be institutionalized.
3. Fortify the Rabies Shield: Protecting Humans Now:
Zero Tolerance for ARV/Immunoglobulin Shortages: Ensure uninterrupted supplies of Anti-Rabies Vaccines (ARV) and Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) at all primary health centres, hospitals, and ABCARV centres. This is non-negotiable for human life.
Aggressive Public Awareness on Post-Bite Protocol: Launch massive campaigns educating every citizen on the critical importance of immediately washing bites with soap/water and seeking medical attention without delay. Make the "Wash and Go" message ubiquitous.
Sustain High Dog Vaccination Coverage: Continue and intensify the separate ARV catching/vaccination drives that have proven successful in Bangalore. High dog vaccination rates (70%+) are the bedrock of community rabies elimination.
4. Foster Responsible Community Coexistence:
Empower Caretakers & RWAs: Work with CJMT Canine Squads who have nearly 5000 people across 60 plus squads in Bangalore. Provide clear guidelines and support systems for community dog caretakers and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs). Encourage responsible feeding (away from thoroughfares, clean areas), monitoring for illness/injury, and prompt reporting of concerns.
Address Problem Dogs Humanely & Specifically: Develop and implement a clear, accessible "Bite Protocol." An SOP for Biting Dogs has already been developed by BHARCSband is easy ti implement in areas where there are active caretakers. Truly aggressive or dangerous dogs should be assessed by behavior experts. Removal to properly managed sanctuaries or rehabilitation facilities should be a last resort only for specific, identified problem animals – never a blanket solution. No community dog should pay for the sins of one or two.
Combat Misinformation: Proactively educate the public on the realities of shelter life for displaced street dogs and the proven effectiveness of ABCARV versus the cruelty and failure of mass removal.
5. Unify State-Wide Action: Beyond Bangalore:
Sterivax State Mission: Launch a dedicated "Sterivax Karnataka Mission" with clear targets, district-level responsibility, and the resources to match. Bangalore's progress must ignite action, not exist in isolation.
Empower District Administrations: Provide District Commissioners and Municipal CEOs with clear mandates, dedicated budgets, and technical support to implement ABCARV effectively in their jurisdictions.
High-Level Coordination: Sustain and intensify the crucial collaboration between Animal Husbandry, Urban Development, Karnataka Animal Welfare Board, NGOs like CJ Memorial Trust, and local bodies. Regular review meetings at the highest levels are essential.
6.#MillionIndiesHomed Project - Adopt more Indies! Be Indie Proud. Karnataka has already approved the project via our dynamic Chief Secretary Dr Shalini Rajneesh, but let us dial this up , as citizens, NGO's , Community. government and busineses. Lets bring more Indie dogs into our home and family.
The Time for Decisive Action is Now.
Karnataka stands at a crossroads. We can succumb to fear and reactionary cruelty, following a path that has failed elsewhere and betrays our values of compassion. Or, we can choose the enlightened, scientific, and humane path of accelerated ABCARV. This path demonstrably protects human health by eliminating rabies at its source, reduces dog bites through population stabilization and vaccination, and upholds our moral responsibility to treat all living beings with dignity.
CJ Memorial Trust, many NGO's and countless citizens are already working tirelessly with the government, providing insights, pushing agendas, and seeking solutions. We commend the Chief Minister's principled stand. However we must build on this . Now, we need that commitment translated into relentless, well-resourced, and transparent action on the ground in every town and district.
Let Karnataka be the state that proves harmonious human-animal coexistence is not just possible, but achievable through compassion, science, and decisive action. Let us build a future where no child fears rabies, where no dog suffers needlessly in a cruel shelter system, and where our communities thrive together.
Let us choose compassion.
Let us choose science.
Let us choose effective action.
Let Karnataka lead the way.
Jai Karnataka
In solidarity for a safer, kinder Karnataka,
The Spirit of Compassionate Action
Represented by CJ Memorial Trust & numerous Karnataka's Animal Welfare Advocates
Annexures:
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