Bengaluru: Students and young citizens, organized under the banner Students For Streeties, urged the Karnataka government on Saturday to prioritize Animal Birth Control (ABC) and Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV) initiatives instead of moving forward with the planned establishment of five pounds for community dogs in Bengaluru.
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At a press conference, the group appealed to Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, to reconsider the proposal of using these pounds as permanent confinement facilities. They suggested repurposing existing infrastructure to serve as centers for sterilization, vaccination, veterinary treatment, rehabilitation, and responsible release of community dogs.
The group also called for transparency regarding the proposed facilities, demanding information about construction costs, budgets, tenders, staffing, maintenance, and timelines for implementation. They advocated for public funds to be redirected towards enhancing and effectively monitoring ABC and ARV programs across all 31 districts of the state.
Participants emphasized the importance of engaging students, citizens, animal welfare organizations, and veterinary professionals in discussions before initiating large-scale projects. They argued that humane, science-based dog population management is essential for achieving a balance between public health, animal welfare, and community interests, urging the government to focus on sustainable solutions rather than the prolonged confinement of healthy dogs.
The event saw participation from animal welfare activists, legal professionals, students, and volunteers, along with a community dog named Ramu from St Mark’s Road.