Pune to microchip stray dogs under Rabies-Free India drive.
Pilot starts with 600 dogs to track vaccination and sterilization.
RFID chips will help monitor and reduce dog-bite cases.
Pune, 17 October 2025: Pune is set to become the first city in Maharashtra to insert microchips in stray dogs, with the goal of controlling their population and reducing dog bites incidents. This effort is a part of the Central Government's Rabies-Free India initiative.
Across India, cases of dog bites and rabies-related deaths have been rising, prompting several cities, including Delhi, Goa, Jaipur, and Bengaluru, to adopt microchipping for stray dogs. The technology allows authorities to track vaccination and sterilization records while monitoring the movement of animals.
Pune Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram said the city has seen a noticeable increase in dog-bite cases in recent months, leading the PMC to act proactively. “Pune has around three lakh stray dogs. As a pilot, we will microchip 600 dogs initially,” he said.
Ram explained that the microchip, roughly the size of a grain of rice, will be injected into the dog’s shoulder. It uses RFID technology and carries a unique 15-digit number, similar to an Aadhaar card, which can be scanned to reveal the dog’s age, colour, vaccination and sterilization status, and area of residence.
The PMC believes the project will help streamline sterilization and vaccination drives. “Scanning the chip provides instant access to a dog’s medical history, ensuring timely vaccinations and better planning of sterilization programs,” Ram added.
The civic body plans to assess the pilot project’s success before expanding the microchipping program to cover the entire city, including newly incorporated areas. Authorities hope this technology will improve monitoring and data accuracy for Pune’s stray dog population.