Ludhiana, April 12 -- A steady rise in dog bite cases in Ludhiana has brought the municipal corporation's sterilisation drive under scrutiny, with officials and animal welfare groups flagging gaps in coverage, funding and infrastructure.

Dog bite cases rose from 31,054 in 2024 to 37,200 in 2025, while the MC sterilised only around 12,000 dogs during the year, according to health officer Dr Vipan Malhotra.

The disparity has raised concerns over the effectiveness of population control measures.

Members of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPAC) attributed the slow pace to inadequate financial support. A member, requesting anonymity, said sterilisation at private clinics costs around Rs.7,000 per dog, whereas MC tenders pr...