Bengaluru North City Corporation dog shelter faces allegations of indiscriminate stray pickup
The Bengaluru North City Corporation (BNCC) dog shelter, established at a cost of approximately ₹1.8 crores, faces allegations from animal welfare activists that it is picking up stray dogs indiscriminately from residential neighbourhoods. This contradicts Supreme Court directions that restrict municipal authorities to collecting strays only from institutional premises such as hospitals and educational campuses.
Activists report that dogs found in the shelter are malnourished and that welfare workers are being denied access to assess health conditions. A recent inspection revealed that the shelter has been dumping dog fecal matter into a septic tank, violating norms set by the Supreme Court, Animal Welfare Board of India, and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board. The shelter has a maximum capacity of 500 dogs.
The BNCC's chief veterinary officer denied the allegations, stating the agency contracted for dog pickups has not been authorised to collect strays from neighbourhoods. Animal welfare activists contend the contracted agency is incentivised financially to fill the shelter with more dogs.
