Bengaluru, 13 July

The BBMP issued a clarification to its initiative to feed stray dogs, following widespread media and social media coverage. The Animal Husbandry Department also invited tenders for supplying fresh, balanced food to street dogs at designated feeding locations.

The BBMP stated that they were already providing food to stray dogs last year and the most recent proposal of providing chicken-rice to the animals was an improvement based on lessons learned from the project. They added that feeding dogs was part a legal necessity under Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023.

The total cost of the program is Rs 2.88 crore, the BBMP clarified. Each BBMP zone will have 100 feeding spots, serving 500 dogs daily for a year. The cost per dog per day is estimated at Rs 19, covering food, transport, and sanitation.

“These feeding points will be identified and monitored by the Assistant Directors of each zone, and food will be provided by the selected service provider/s through tender process,” the BBMP said in a statement.