THANE: Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde has directed the Thane district administration to construct permanent dog shelters and intensify sterilisation drives to rein in the stray dog population and reduce the incidence of dog bites.
Shinde, who is also guardian minister of Thane, issued these directives while addressing the District Planning Committee (DPC) meeting in Thane on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by local people’s representatives, district collector Dr Shrikrishna Panchal and senior civic and police officials.
Instances of dog bites have made headlines recently, with three locals dying of rabies in the last four months alone, despite being injected with the anti-rabies vaccine. The deaths, which took place in Ambarnath, Diva and Bhiwandi, have rung alarm bells.
Then, on Tuesday, residents of a posh housing society in Thane approached the local police, seeking their help as stray dogs had “taken over” the society. They were furious with a group of fellow residents, who have been feeding strays on the premises. Distraught, these residents presented pictures of stray dogs in the lifts, gym and gardens, pointing to the risk to children, seniors and everyone at large.
While there is no comprehensive data on the stray dog population in Thane district, Dr Kailash Pawar, civil surgeon at the Thane Civil Hospital, said more than 67,000 doses of the rabies vaccine were administered across 14 government hospitals in the district between January 2025 and January 2026.
He said, on average, a patient receives two to five doses, depending on the severity and location of the bite. He added that, based on this data, government hospitals alone would have treated at least 22,000 patients, accounting for an average three doses per patient. These figures do not include vaccines administered by municipal hospitals, private hospitals, or local clinics, he stressed.
Following were areas where the highest number of doses were administered: Ulhasnagar Camp No 3 (12,594), Bhiwandi (11,793), Ulhasnagar Camp No 4 (9,788), and Ambarnath (8,450). Other affected areas include Thane city, Shahapur, Murbad, the Kalyan-Dombivli belt, Mira-Bhayander, Badlapur, Khardi, and Titwala-Ambadi.
Pawar has urged residents to take the anti-rabies vaccination if bitten or even scratched by a dog, regardless of whether or not the animal appears rabid. He also cautioned against approaching unverified local clinics and unqualified practitioners for anti-rabies shots.
“Deaths have been reported despite following all treatment protocols, including completing the vaccination schedule. The outcome can depend on factors such as the patient’s immunity and the location of the bite,” said Pawar.