Bengaluru: BBMP’s dog-feeding plan risks worsening stray crisis, experts warn

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) initiative to feed 5,000 stray dogs daily with chicken and rice has triggered serious concerns among animal behaviour experts and public safety advocates. While the move is positioned as a welfare measure, critics argue it could inadvertently worsen the city’s already escalating stray dog crisis.

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Feeding strays at fixed times and locations may lead to the formation of territorial dog packs. When dogs begin associating specific areas with regular food sources, they tend to defend these zones aggressively. This pack behaviour increases the likelihood of confrontations with pedestrians, cyclists, and children, especially in densely populated neighbourhoods.

Pack dynamics often shift formerly timid strays into more dominant, confrontational animals. In such groups, dogs can exhibit increased aggression and reduced fear of humans. This presents heightened risks in urban settings where human-animal interaction is frequent and unavoidable.

Furthermore, steady food supply without simultaneous sterilisation could contribute to population growth. Nutritious meals improve survival rates and breeding efficiency, potentially compounding the very issue the city seeks to address. Without a comprehensive and data-driven approach that includes vaccination, sterilisation, and mapping, feeding schemes could backfire.

In the absence of strict enforcement and monitoring, the BBMP’s scheme risks turning compassion into chaos, fuelling territorial aggression and further endangering urban safety in Bengaluru.