Akola's stray dog numbers rise as sterilisation drive stalls over tender problems

The number of stray dogs in Akola city is rising by the day. The municipal corporation, municipal councils and nagar panchayats run sterilisation drives to control them, but because of flaws in the drive, its slow pace and hurdles in the tender process, the dog population in the city is growing instead of shrinking.

The work is stuck because agencies have not responded as expected to the call for sterilising Akola's stray dogs. The municipal corporation floated a tender twice without receiving any response, and then floated it a third time.

Are agencies staying away because of interference? Sterilisation operations for stray dogs in the city were carried out at a closed municipal school next to the Home Guard office. When the first agency's contract period ended, the work was given to a second agency. But after sterilising some dogs, this agency also stopped work. Tenders were then floated again, but no agency responded. It is said that once sterilisation work begins, the agencies concerned face interference in their work. It is learnt that two agencies have so far faced such conditions, and this is said to be the reason behind the lack of response from agencies.

A shelter home has been built at the Naigaon dumping ground. The municipal corporation has put up a shelter of about 7,000 square feet for stray dogs there. According to information about changes in shelter norms, the necessary improvements have been made. The work of catching dogs has been given to a contractor, who will be paid Rs 200 per dog. Initially, dogs on the premises of government offices will be caught. The municipal corporation will have to arrange their food. It is said that the shelter will eventually have a capacity for 10,000 dogs, but for now it can house about 400.

The city is estimated to have more than 15,000 stray dogs. People in many areas are troubled by their roaming, and several people have had to seek treatment for dog bites. Catching stray dogs and releasing them outside the city is prohibited, so the emphasis is on sterilisation to keep their numbers in check.

Within the limits of the Akola Municipal Corporation (AMC), an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 stray dogs have been reported. Between 40 and 60 people are bitten by dogs every day. That many patients come daily for injections at the district Government Medical College (GMC Akola).

If a dog bites, the wound should be washed immediately with soap and running water for 15 minutes. Turmeric, chilli or lime should not be applied. The anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) is available free at Akola's district hospital and the municipal corporation's hospitals.

On March 21, 2026, the AMC floated a new tender to appoint an agency for catching stray dogs, sterilising them and giving rabies vaccinations in the Akola Municipal Corporation area.