Kullu’s long-pending plan to establish a shelter for stray dogs remains stuck in files and administrative delays, even as the menace of roaming canine packs continues to grow across the town. Residents say the issue has become a serious public safety concern, with groups of stray dogs frequently seen on roads, footpaths and in the market areas, particularly during the night.
The proposal for a dedicated dog shelter was first conceived nearly eight years ago through a joint initiative of the Municipal Council, the district administration and the Animal Husbandry Department. A site was identified in the Lanka Bekar area and the authorities projected the shelter as a long-term solution to manage the increasing stray dog population. However, despite repeated assurances, the project has failed to materialise.
Municipal Council officials have often attributed the delay to objections raised by local residents against the proposed site. As a result, the plan has remained confined to paperwork, while the number of stray canine continued to rise.
Two years ago, a sterilisation campaign was launched and around 100 dogs were sterilised, but the drive failed to continue on a sustained basis.
The situation in Kullu reflects a wider challenge faced by urban centres across Himachal Pradesh. In recent years, both the Himachal Pradesh High Court and the Supreme Court of India have repeatedly emphasised on the need for scientific management of stray dog populations through sterilisation, vaccination and the creation of adequate shelter facilities. Courts have observed that local bodies must strike a balance between animal welfare and public safety, ensuring that residents are protected from dog attacks while complying with animal protection laws.
Over the years similar concerns in several towns of the state are highlighted, where courts directed municipal bodies and district administrations to accelerate animal birth control programmes, establish shelters and improve coordination with animal welfare agencies. The judiciary has also stressed that merely relocating dogs is not a sustainable solution and that long-term infrastructure is essential.
In Kullu, however, progress has remained elusive. Residents complain that pedestrians, schoolchildren and elderly citizens often face difficulties due to aggressive packs of dogs. The problem becomes more acute during the night when the animals gather in larger numbers near markets and residential areas.
With the tourist town continuing to expand and human-animal interactions increasing, citizens are demanding that the Municipal Council revive the stalled shelter project and restart sterilisation drives. They argue that without immediate intervention, the stray dog problem is likely to worsen, leaving both public safety concerns and animal welfare objectives unaddressed.
