The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has launched a special public health initiative called "Rabies-Free Thane" amid a rise in dog bite cases across the district. The campaign was inaugurated on February 21 at the municipal headquarters by Mayor Sharmila Pimplolkar, who unveiled the official mission posters and signalled the start of the citywide drive.
The initiative aims to vaccinate over 25,000 stray dogs in the next month.
The initiative comes 10 days after Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde directed the Thane district administration to build permanent dog shelters and intensify sterilization efforts following complaints about increasing incidents of dog bites.
The municipality has formed a 50-member trained task force to carry out a systematic anti-rabies vaccination campaign in key areas of the city.
Officials said that in the initial phase, over 5,000 stray dogs will be included in the vaccination.
The operation will be carried out in phases to ensure maximum coverage and compliance with animal welfare norms.
She also appealed to citizens to cooperate by reporting stray dog groups and following safety guidelines.
The event was attended by Deputy Commissioner Manish Joshi, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pawan Kadam, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Prasad Patil, Veterinary Officer Dr. Kshama Shirodkar, along with other municipal and animal welfare officials.
According to Dr. Kailash Pawar, Civil Surgeon at Thane Civil Hospital, more than 67,000 doses of anti-rabies vaccine were administered in 14 government hospitals between January 2025 and January 2026.
Based on an average of three doses per patient, at least 22,000 people would have received treatment in government hospitals during this period.
He said that this figure does not include vaccines administered in municipal hospitals, private hospitals or local dispensaries.
Key features of this campaign:
A standout feature of this year’s campaign is the introduction of orange reflector collars. Once a dog is vaccinated, it will be fitted with a high-visibility radium collar. This serves two critical purposes:
It allows civic workers and citizens to easily identify dogs that have already been immunised.
The reflective material ensures that the animals are visible to motorists during the night, significantly reducing the risk of road accidents involving strays.
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