Say No to Animal Cruelty: Hyderabad’s Stray Dog Cull Sparks Urgent Call for Compassionate Solutions, escalating culls. Killing isn’t control, it’s a cycle of cruelty. Discover why compassion through Animal Birth Control (ABC) is the city’s true path forward in this “Say No to Animal Cruelty” wake-up call.
From late December 2025 through mid-January 2026, over 500 stray dogs perished in Telangana’s Kamareddy, Warangal, and Jagtial districts, often tied to post-election drives by village leaders to curb street dog numbers. In areas around Hyderabad like Yacharam and Ranga Reddy, nearly 100 dogs fell victim to suspected poisoning on January 19, while earlier cases in Shyampet and Arepally claimed over 300 lives through toxins or injections, leading to arrests of officials and contractors.
Animal activist A Goutham lodged a complaint over events on January 17 at a Symbiosis campus near Hyderabad, where dog catchers allegedly used metal wires to drag strays forcefully before loading them into vehicles for relocation, acting on chief warden directives.This case underscores broader patterns of mishandling amid rising complaints.
In the bustling streets of Hyderabad, where the hum of daily life meets the occasional bark of a stray dog, a heated debate is unfolding. As 2026 unfolds, reports of stray dog culls have intensified, drawing sharp criticism from animal lovers, activists, and residents alike. The “Say No to Animal Cruelty” campaign urges a pause, instead of short-term fixes, let’s champion sustainable, humane paths forward. Voices from the ground, including dog lover Tanvee and Devens Hope, an animal shelter led by Sonam Singh Baheti and Deven Jaya Baheti, paint a picture of frustration, hope, and practical wisdom.
Sonam Singh Baheti, speaking candidly about the recurring culls, calls it “an old thing going on.” She points out the cruelty in these measures, stressing that killing dogs doesn’t solve the problem. “Dogs are territorial animals,” she explains. “The more dogs they remove, the more will move in to fill the space, and that creates a bigger issue.” Sonam Baheti echoes this, advocating for Animal Birth Control (ABC) as the real solution: sterilizing strays to manage populations humanely. Yet, they lament the government’s reluctance to prioritize it, opting instead for easier, less responsible steps.
Tanvee, a passionate dog lover navigating Hyderabad’s pet-friendly (and sometimes hostile) neighborhoods, shares similar concerns. Localities often threaten those who feed or shelter strays, she notes, underscoring the need for government-led education. Devens Hope once organized workshops on responsible pet ownership and coexistence, but turnout was dismal only four people showed up. “Dogs are living beings too,” Sonam adds firmly. “It’s right to feed animals; there’s no rule against it. We need programs that teach people how to get along with pets, how to treat them.
The cull debate highlights deeper challenges in Hyderabad’s urban landscape. Stray dogs, often numbering in the thousands across areas like Secunderabad and Banjara Hills, scavenge amid rapid urbanization and overflowing landfills. While some residents fear rabies or attacks, experts agree ABC, proven effective in cities like Mumbai and Chennai, reduces aggression and numbers over time. The campaign calls for ramped-up ABC drives, better waste management to deter strays, and community workshops to foster harmony.
By choosing compassion over cruelty, Hyderabad can lead the way. As Sonam puts it, true control comes from responsibility, not removal. Join the “Say No to Animal Cruelty” movement.
Support ABC, attend awareness sessions, and become part of the solution..
As Hyderabad’s streets echo with the plight of strays, let’s silence cruelty with action. Embrace ABC, educate communities, and own our role as compassionate caretakers because every dog deserves a fighting chance, not a final cull. Join the “Say No to Animal Cruelty” campaign today: together, we can humanely heal our city.
Amid January’s intense controversy over stray dog culls in Telangana, where over 500 dogs were allegedly killed via lethal injections to fulfill election promises .
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