Despite spending nearly Rs 2.78 crore over the past five years on sterilising stray dogs, the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) has struggled to contain the city’s rapidly growing street dog population. Residents say the problem has spiralled out of control, and data backs this claim. Official data reveals 125,841 dog bite cases have been reported since 2021, averaging over 60 incidents each day. In Nalasopara East’s municipal hospital alone, civic sources say over 500 bite cases are registered each month.
Cases rising
Despite Rs 2.78 crore being spent on sterilisation and Rs 6 crore on anti-rabies vaccinations, only 17,112 dogs have been sterilised in five years. The civic body runs the sterilisation and vaccination drives through two NGOs — Janice Smith Animal Welfare Trust and Prataprao Rane Educational & Charitable Trust — paying around Rs 1650 per dog.
The team from Janice Smith Animal Welfare Trust. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Yet the bite figures have climbed from 11,508 cases in 2021 to nearly 36,000 in 2024. A third organisation, Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS), provides free rabies vaccinations under the municipal partnership. “We are aware of the increasing cases and are actively working on it,” VVCMC Deputy Commissioner Archana Dive said.
On-ground concerns
For those on the ground, the assurances mean little. “After 9 pm, packs of dogs chase bikers and attack pedestrians,” said Ravi Shinde, a Nalasopara resident who was bitten last year. Narayan Singh Rajput, a resident of Global City, Virar West, said, “Children are terrified to go to school. Last week, a dog chased my wife, and neighbours had to intervene. Despite repeated complaints, no one has come to check.” Animal feeders are also frustrated. Anupma Clement from Virar East lamented, “I have around 50 dogs, including several females, waiting to be sterilised. If they are not operated on in time, their numbers will increase.”
Residents have also raised serious concerns regarding post-operative care. Sujata Sarkar reported that in the first week of September, 8-9 strays were picked up from her area for sterilisation. One female dog died three days after the procedure. According to Sarkar, no post-mortem was conducted. The reason provided was that the NGO “does not do preventive maintenance for such cases”. She described this explanation as unprofessional and lacking transparency. Several dogs were reportedly released only after 11 days of being picked up.
A rabid dog in Nalasopara
She also highlighted issues with the NGO’s rigid pickup and release schedule (11 am-6 pm on weekdays), which she said made coordination difficult for working citizens. Manish, a local resident, shared that there was a suspected rabid dog in his area, biting other dogs. The Janice Smith Animal Welfare Trust tried catching the dog, but he went missing. Manish contacted NGO founder Manoj Ostwal again, at which point he stated that he does not currently have any vaccine available. “He told me that there is no vaccination available after I waited for 24 hours for help. Both NGOs have completed six months of tenure, but neither is functioning according to rules.”
NGOs hit back
Ostwal said the NGO’s role is limited by mandate. “Our trust is not authorised to vaccinate rabid dogs — that responsibility lies with WVS and Rane Trust. Vasai-Virar has a serious rabies problem, and mass vaccination is the only long-term solution. We started in May and currently sterilise around 1200 dogs a month. Societies call for pick-up but refuse to take the dogs back after sterilisation. Cooperation is crucial.”
Manoj Pratap Rane of Prataprao Rane Educational & Charitable Trust, which handles about 600 dogs per month, said, “We sterilised around 2300 dogs and vaccinated 3246 till August. The average treatment time is still five days, not 15 days, but it depends on each dog. We cannot release a dog until it’s completely fit. False assumptions don’t help.”
He stressed that the issue requires a coordinated, central response: “There are 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, and the problem exists everywhere. Dogs, too, have the right to roam. We need support from animal feeders and municipal corporations; a central decision is needed.” A senior civic official admitted that the sterilisation rate remains below required levels. “We need more trained NGOs and better public participation,” the official said.
Bigger picture
“Sterilisation, vaccination, and waste management must go hand in hand, or these efforts are just temporary fixes,” said Dr Rahul Sankhe, a Palghar-based veterinary expert. “Real progress will happen only when population control measures move faster than the rate of reproduction.” Meanwhile, residents like Narayan Singh Rajput are demanding answers for the crores spent, echoing Sujata Sarkar’s plea for online tracking, mandatory post-mortems for animal deaths, and immediate inspection of the NGO facilities.
Vasai-Virar stray dog crisis (2021-2025)
Total dog bites 1,25,841
Average daily bites 60+
Dogs sterilised 17,112
Money spent R2.78 crore (sterilisation) + R6 crore (vaccines)
Active centres 2
Main NGOs Janice Smith Animal Welfare Trust, Prataprao Rane Educational & Charitable Trust
