Pune, February 21: A boy narrowly escaped severe injury on Friday morning after being surrounded and chased by a pack of stray dogs inside a residential complex in the Kirkatwadi area of Pune. The incident, which occurred at the Chaitrangan Society, was captured on CCTV and has sparked widespread outrage among local residents. The footage shows the child, dressed in his school uniform, walking within the society premises when several dogs suddenly encircled him, causing him to scream for help and trip as he attempted to flee.

Fortunately, the child was rescued by a young man nearby and other passersby who rushed to his aid and chased the animals away. While the boy escaped without a dog bite, he sustained minor injuries from the fall and remains in a state of shock. Following the viral spread of the footage on social media, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) dispatched two specialised teams to the locality to assess the situation and identify the aggressive animals involved. Rabies Death in Pune: 33-Year-Old Man Dies Nearly 3 Months After Stray Dog Bite Despite Vaccination.

Minor Narrowly Escapes After Being Chased by Stray Dogs

Pune Dog Attack

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, PMC’s veterinary department initiated a search operation in the Kirkatwadi vicinity. Dr. Sarika Funde-Bhosale, the chief veterinary officer of the PMC, confirmed that although the teams reached the spot shortly after the video surfaced, the specific dogs seen in the footage had already dispersed.

The civic body has pledged to continue the drive in the area over the coming days. "Aggressive dogs will be caught, vaccinated, and kept under observation at the municipal dog pound," Dr. Funde-Bhosale stated. The captured animals will also be tested for rabies and monitored for behavioural issues before any further relocation or release protocols are initiated. Dog Attack in Pune: Stray Dog With Suspected Rabies Bites 17 People in Indapur, Panic As Hospital Lacked Anti-Rabies Serum (Watch Video).

The incident has reignited a long-standing debate over the increasing stray dog population in Pune’s fringe areas. Residents of Chaitrangan Society and neighboring colonies claimed that they have submitted multiple complaints to the civic authorities over the past few months without significant results.

Many parents in the area expressed that the society premises, previously considered a safe zone, now feel hazardous for children. "We are now reluctant to allow our children to play outdoors even within the gated community," one resident noted. Local groups are demanding intensified sterilization drives and faster response mechanisms to prevent such close-call incidents from turning fatal.

Background: The Urban Stray Challenge

This attack is the latest in a series of reported canine-human conflicts across the city. According to data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, dog bite incidents have seen a notable year-on-year surge in several Indian metropolitan hubs. In Pune, the PMC has been struggling with limited infrastructure, including a lack of dedicated animal shelters to house aggressive strays long-term.

While animal birth control (ABC) programs are ongoing, civic officials admit that the scale of the stray population, estimated to be over several lakhs in the district, requires more robust funding and public-private cooperation. Currently, the law mandates that dogs must be returned to their original habitat after vaccination and sterilization, a policy that continues to be a point of contention between animal rights activists and concerned parents.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 21, 2026 11:21 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).