Enough is enough! Celebrities, animal activists demand justice for Telangana’s strays

A spate of stray dog deaths across Telangana has triggered a wave of concern from activists and celebrities alike. With nearly 1,000 estimated fatalities spanning districts like Jagtial and Kamareddy — and distressing footage emerging from Hyderabad’s Amberpet municipal shelter —the state’s animal welfare infrastructure is under intense scrutiny. These events have reopened a critical debate on the lack of accountability and the desperate need for humane, systemic stray management in the region.

Incidents in focus

• 15 Jan 2026: To fulfil poll vow, sarpanches get over 500 stray dogs killed in 3 dists
• 17 Jan 2026: Magnesium sulphate may have been used in the mass killing of strays
• 21 Jan 2026: 100 strays poisoned in Rangareddy; sarpanch, two others booked
• 24 Jan 2026: Another 300 strays killed in Jagtial district, sarpanch booked

These incidents reveal systemic apathy: Activists

Dogs have died in multiple villages over a short span of time. For those working on the ground, it has been deeply distressing

– Adulapuram Goutham, Stray Animals Foundation of India

Local bodies lack adequate facilities, and mandated monitoring mechanisms have not been consistently in place. Without expert oversight, decisions tend to be reactive rather than preventive

– Tejovanth Anupoju, founder of Help for Animal Society

There is a visible rise in cruelty complaints across the State. In several cases, interpretations of policy directions appear inconsistent. Our repeated efforts to assist at shelters have not always been accommodated, which only adds to concerns about transparency

– Saanvi Gupta, founder of Angelic NGO

Need scientific solutions & accountability: Celebrities

People worship Kalabhairava every morning, yet dogs are being killed. Garbage accumulation fuels the rise in street dog populations, but the root cause is ignored. If we do not speak up now, we will be answerable not just to society, but to God as well

– Renu Desai, actor, director and producer

Stray dog populations are directly linked to human activity, especially exposed garbage. Killing dogs is not a solution. The vacuum is quickly filled. Animal Birth Control is the only scientific solution, yet it has been inconsistently implemented

– Sashi Kiran Tikka, filmmaker

Some people say dogs are ‘unnecessary’ and should be killed. By that logic, if parents fail to care for us and don’t treat us properly tomorrow, should they be killed, too? Mass killing may seem minor to some, but it reflects a dangerous mindset. Injecting and killing 500 dogs is a deeply shameful act

– Rashmi Gautam, actor

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