Telangana Stray Dog Killings Escalate: 1,300 Deaths Tied to Local Officials, Activists Allege
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A disturbing trend of stray dog killings in Telangana has come to light, with animal welfare groups claiming that over 1,300 dogs have been slaughtered since December 2025. The latest allegations point to local officials orchestrating the killings, with activists accusing them of using toxic substances to poison the dogs. According to a police complaint filed by animal rights activist A Goutham, nearly 200 dogs were killed in Pathipaka village of Shayampet mandal in Hanamkonda district about a month ago. The incident is believed to be connected to the local gram panchayat secretary, who allegedly instructed the killings to appease villagers ahead of the gram panchayat elections. This is not an isolated incident, with multiple cases of stray dog killings reported across Telangana in January. In one such case, about 300 dogs were allegedly killed in Pegadapally village of Jagtial district on January 22. Authorities have registered FIRs against local officials in several cases, including the sarpanch, secretary, and ward members, invoking provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Animal welfare organisations have expressed concerns over a pattern of targeted killings, with activists suspecting that some elected local representatives were involved in the killings. The Telangana government has been urged to take immediate action to prevent such incidents and ensure the safety of stray dogs.
