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The recent Supreme Court ruling on stray dogs, though well-intentioned, has ignited intense debate by focusing primarily on sheltering the animals — a move many argue is neither practical nor a complete solution
The factors that allow stray populations to grow – from poor sanitation to high-density food vending zones – are deeply embedded in the way our cities function.
What is clear is that we need a smarter approach that protects people without abandoning compassion for animals. This is where AI and technology could make a real difference, offering targeted, data-driven interventions instead of blanket measures. Let’s explore how.
1. Identifying hotspots
Stray dog incidents tend to occur in areas with:
> Poor waste management and open drains
> Dense clusters of food vendors, bakeries, and restaurants
> High transit hubs like bus stations and metro stations
> Construction sites with leftover food waste
For example, in Gurugram’s Sector 14 Market Area, push cart density is 1 for every 420 people, food establishments are concentrated, and drainage is poor. Nearby IFFCO Chowk Metro Station sees a transit population of 180,000 daily. These factors combine to create ideal conditions for stray dog populations to grow and human-dog conflict to rise.
A Bangalore-based company, Evam Labs, has come up with an AI solution called Propheus, that can map such hotspots in real time using AI that combines satellite imagery, CCTV analysis, and drones. Similar approaches have been used by companies like Orbital Insight in the United States and Picterra in Switzerland for urban pattern detection and hotspot mapping.
2. Predicting and Preventing Incidents
Machine learning models could analyze:
> Past incident locations
>Foot traffic density
> Waste accumulation patterns
These inputs can help predict where incidents are likely to happen, allowing municipal teams to act proactively with waste cleanup, sterilization drives, or awareness campaigns before danger escalates.
3. Making Shelters Smarter with Computer Vision
If relocation is necessary, overcrowded shelters are often a major bottleneck. Computer vision and AI can:
> Identify individual dogs using facial recognition, already offered by companies like PiP My Pet in Canada and Finding Rover in the United States
> Track sterilisation, vaccination, and feeding schedules automatically
> Monitor shelter capacity via CCTV to prevent overcrowding and flag potential welfare issues
With these tools, shelters can become more transparent, efficient, and humane.
4. Giving Citizens Faster Help
An AI-powered multilingual helpline could:
> Let people report bites or aggressive animals instantly
> Share GPS coordinates directly with municipal teams
> Educate the public on safe cohabitation with strays
5. Managing Public Sentiment
AI-driven social media monitoring tools like Brandwatch can detect spikes in fear or misinformation around stray dogs. This allows quick, factual communication to prevent panic and maintain trust.
A Smarter Path Forward
AI can turn the stray dog crisis from a reactive firefight into a problem we manage with foresight and precision. The tools exist. The patterns are visible. What is needed now is a united front between city administrations willing to act and entrepreneurs ready to innovate.
If the right resources are allocated and the issue is treated as a priority, we can create a future where people feel safe walking or running the streets and animals live in conditions that are humane and well-managed. It is not about choosing between safety and compassion. It is about building a system where both can thrive.
The author of this article is Parminder Singh, CEO & Co-Founder – ClayboxAI.
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