Mohali: A surge in the number of stray pups in Mullanpur and Nayagaon has become a pressing concern for residents, who report frequent sightings of abandoned puppies on roads and in residential pockets, leading to accidents and rising human-animal conflict.Residents alleged that people from nearby areas such as Kharar and Kurali are dumping stray pups in Mullanpur and Medicity, ferrying them in cars. Locals say transporting puppies is easier than relocating adult dogs, resulting in a sudden spike in their numbers over recent weeks.Neha, a resident of Omaxe township, said the increase was sharp and noticeable. “Within a week, the population of stray dog pups increased manifold. We later realised that some people were bringing pups in vehicles and abandoning them in Mullanpur and Medicity. Carrying puppies is much easier than transporting adult dogs,” she said.She added that local volunteers and dog lovers, along with an NGO, are attempting to sterilise stray dogs, but the effort is financially demanding and difficult to sustain without govt support.Residents flagged safety risks, noting that pups often dart onto roads and are run over by speeding vehicles, causing accidents as well as distress to locals. The absence of proper boundary walls in several housing societies has further allowed stray dogs to enter residential premises freely, they said.Mohali deputy commissioner Komal Mittal said steps are under way to address the issue through a sterilisation drive. “Tenders have been called for stray dog sterilisation for Kharar municipal council, and Mullanpur, Nayagaon and Kurali have been included in the same cluster. The selected agency will carry out the work zone-wise,” she said.Mittal added that land is available in Majri and Mullanpur to set up dog pounds and sterilisation centres to manage the stray population in a systematic manner.
