Prayagraj: The Prayagraj municipal corporation (PMC) has decided to set up the city’s first large-scale dog care centre. The move comes amid growing complaints from residents about the rising number of stray dogs in public spaces and the threat they pose, particularly to children, elderly citizens and women.Stray dogs have become a common sight in streets, markets, hospitals, railway stations, schools and bus stands, with their numbers steadily increasing. In many cases, packs of dogs reportedly attacked pedestrians, creating a sense of fear among residents. To provide a long-term solution, PMC has planned to establish a dedicated facility in the Phaphamau area.The proposed centre will be developed on nearly four hectares of land between Malak Harhar and Gaddopur. It will have the capacity to accommodate around 3,000 stray dogs at a time, making it one of the largest such facilities in the region. The initiative aims not only to control the stray dog population but also to ensure proper care and management of the animals, officials said.Once operational, special teams will be formed to capture stray dogs from different parts of the city and transport them safely to the centre. Each team will consist of five trained members to ensure that the animals are handled without injury. The centre will provide adequate food, water, shelter and medical care, including treatment for sick and injured dogs.The project is estimated to cost around Rs2-3 crore. According to municipal veterinary and welfare officer Dr Vijay Amritraj, the centre will significantly boost sterilisation efforts, with a capacity to conduct around 250 sterilisation procedures daily. Currently, only 30-45 such procedures are carried out each day at the existing facility in Kareli, which has proven insufficient to address the growing problem.Officials believe that the new centre will not only help control the stray dog population but also improve public safety and animal welfare across the city.
