Medi Agrahara
Animal Welfare
A joint inspection conducted by a group of animal activists of a stray dog shelter atin north Bengaluru found the facility to be significantly out of compliance with the SOP on nearly every operational parameter.The inspection, carried out on September 9, revealed that waste disposal was allegedly contaminating groundwater and unmeasured feeding, leaving the dogs visibly underweight. The activists also reportedly found ill-maintained records that did not allow individual dog identification.Bangalore Mirror published ‘Stray dog shelter or sickness factory?’ on July 5, 2026, stating that the shelter for stray dogs at Medi Agrahara by Bengaluru North City Corporation seems to be a knee-jerk response to the Supreme Court’s directive on stray dogs.The volunteers found the enclosure mesh compromised. The dogs have no provision for exercise and enrichment despite theBoard of India’s own reference design allocating a dedicated exercise yard. Facility-support functions also fell short: cooking and washing are done inside the holding area with no fire-safety compliance, while lacking proper shelter from sun and rain.“Drainage is poor and there is no enclosed storage or waste segregation. No safety for handling staff. Of 74 dogs currently housed, 62 have undergone animal birth control and 12 remain to be operated,” the inspection report read.Volunteers urged replacing the metal roof with heatproof roofing and improve ventilation with adequate exhaust capacity and functional air movement to reduce heat and humidity in the holding area. They said that installation of a double-gate entry system should be considered to prevent dogs from accidentally escaping and to improve security.“During the rainy season, wind-driven rain may enter the kennel area and affect the health and comfort of the animals. The open design may also contribute to noise-related issues,” they said.The activists also suggested the drainage systems of the shelter to be redone as water was observed to stagnate during cleaning, leading to the contamination of groundwater.Additionally, they said all kennels must have a board with details of location the dog was picked up from, along with the date, number of dogs and sex on it. “There must be a latch both inside and outside. A separate holding cage must be provided for the dogs while their kennel is being cleaned. Provide separate, quiet housing for dogs that are fearful, elderly, sick or stressed,” volunteers said.The group said that because the community kennel is not surrounded by walls, the movement of people might disturb the dogs and cause them to bark. “Construction of walls must be considered. This may also assist in reducing exposure to contamination and cross-infection. The front portion of the community kennel should be strengthened with corrosion-resistant metal mesh to enhance durability,” they added.