Pune, 10th July 2026: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has microchipped around 1,500 stray dogs as part of its efforts to improve rabies control and animal welfare.
The initiative will help maintain accurate records of each dog's vaccination, sterilisation and medical history, supporting the civic body's goal of making Pune rabies-free by 2030.
According to PMC's Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Sarika Funde-Bhosale, the microchip system makes it easier to identify individual dogs, monitor their medical records and plan future vaccinations and treatments more effectively. It also reduces unnecessary human handling of animals.
Following the inclusion of 34 villages within PMC limits, Pune's stray dog population has crossed 2.5 lakh. The civic body has been conducting anti-rabies vaccination drives for the past three years and has already vaccinated nearly half of the stray dogs.
Officials aim to complete vaccination coverage for the remaining population over the next two years despite manpower constraints.
Previously, sterilised dogs were identified by clipping the tip of one ear. With the new microchip system, veterinary teams can scan a dog from a distance of 15 to 20 centimetres and instantly access details such as vaccination status, sterilisation records and treatment history.
The microchipping program is being implemented with the support of 19 veterinary doctors. According to Dr Swati Shelke, co-founder of Universal Animal Welfare, the organisation aims to microchip 80,000 to one lakh stray dogs annually. The digital identification system will also help authorities quickly verify a dog's vaccination history if it bites or attacks someone.
To ensure the smooth movement of devotees during the Ashadhi Wari Palkhi procession, PMC's dog control team has temporarily captured 25 stray dogs from the Palkhi route and placed them under observation. Civic officials said the animals will be released back into the same areas after the procession concludes, ensuring both public safety and animal welfare.
