3000 Stray Dogs In Shimla To Be Fitted With GPS Collars And QR Codes In A First-Of-Its-Kind Initiative

On the winding streets of Shimla, a new kind of campaign is unfolding. Over the next 25 days, the city’s stray dogs will not only be vaccinated and sterilised, but also fitted with QR codes and GPS-enabled collars. It is a first-of-its-kind initiative in India’s municipal animal management.

Shimla Welcomes Dogs With GPS Tags And QR Codes

According to India Today, the initiative, launched by the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC), comes in response to two urgent problems: a sharp rise in dog-bite cases and a steadily growing stray population. The state is aiming for about 3,000 dogs to be covered during this drive, where each will receive anti-rabies shots, sterilisation, and an individual registration number.

What sets this effort apart is its embrace of digital tracking. The QR codes will let anyone scan a collar and pull up the dog’s vaccination and sterilisation record. The GPS tags, meanwhile, allow the city to follow a dog’s movements in real time. Officials say the data will be used to study patterns of behaviour and location shifts. These insights could help predict aggression or identify hotspots of stray activity.

Not every animal will return to the streets. Those deemed repeatedly aggressive or dangerous will be shifted to the Tutikandi Dog Hut, a holding centre on the city’s outskirts, to ensure both public safety and humane care.

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The programme has drawn in animal experts from Maharashtra, Goa and Delhi, led by Dr. Anil, who is supervising teams across different wards. Their work is part medical mission and part research exercise, including capturing dogs in Shimla, vaccinating them, recording details on age, health and temperament, and then releasing them back once the process is complete.

Alongside the fieldwork, the SMC is rolling out an awareness campaign to shift public attitudes, India Today reported. Residents are being reminded how dogs are treated, whether they’re fed regularly and whether food waste is properly managed. Schools and ward offices are expected to play a role in spreading this message.

The city’s long-term goal is clear: 100% sterilisation. Only then, officials argue, will the stray population begin to decline in a sustainable way. If Shimla succeeds, its model could serve as a blueprint for other Indian cities wrestling with the same challenge of balancing public health with compassion for animals. 

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For now, the sight of dogs trotting through Shimla’s hills with QR codes on their collars may look unusual. But behind it lies a serious attempt to blend technology, veterinary science and community responsibility. This mix, the city hopes, will restore calm to its streets. 

Cover Image Courtesy: anuragjamwal/CanvaPro