BBMP’s dog feeding plan sparks debate

For the past six years, 37-year-old “Protein” Prabhu has faithfully fed monkeys and stray dogs near the Indian Institute of Statistics campus. At noon each day, he sits with a basket of bananas for the monkeys, and after nightfall, feeds nearly 30 stray dogs with chicken and rice—spending nearly ₹2,500 from his own pocket daily.

Now, Prabhu and other animal lovers have found support in a new initiative by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which has floated a ₹2.88 lakh tender to feed 4,000 stray dogs across all eight city zones. The civic body plans to serve each dog a 400-gram meal of chicken and rice daily, offering roughly 750 calories, starting around 11 a.m. at designated feeding points. The aim is to reduce stray dog aggression and promote public safety.

However, the move has drawn mixed reactions online. Critics question the spending priorities of the BBMP, pointing out poor infrastructure, pothole-ridden roads, and civic neglect. Social media users have turned the initiative into a meme fest, linking it humorously to Bengaluru’s infamous traffic and “five-star treatment” for dogs.

One post featured a puppy in a pothole, calling it a “jacuzzi,” while another joked about dogs migrating to Bengaluru for better living standards. Despite the criticism, supporters like Prabhu believe the scheme is a much-needed relief and a humane response to the city’s stray population. BBMP officials maintain that the programme will be closely monitored and adjusted based on public feedback.