The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) initiated a project to install microchips in stray dogs across Bengaluru. This initiative aims to track vaccination and birth control data for these animals, addressing concerns about duplicate vaccinations and improving the overall management of the stray dog population. The microchips, which are grain-sized devices injected under the skin, would contain essential information such as vaccination status, date of birth control surgery, and a unique identification number for each dog.
In 2023, BBMP conducted a survey that estimated the stray dog population in Bengaluru at approximately 279,000, a decrease from previous estimates. Following this survey, a pilot project was launched in September 2024 in specific areas of the city, which reportedly successfully microchipped around 20,000 dogs. Encouraged by these results, BBMP planned to expand the program to cover all strays in a phased manner.
Project opposed by animal rights activists
Animal rights activists have opposed the project calling it “illegal” and “unwarranted” and have filed a Public Interest Litigation in the High Court challenging the same.
Nevina Kamath of Action for Animal Justice, a civic group, one of the petitioners before the High Court, said that the rules mandate the installation of microchips only to pet dogs and not stray dogs, and extending it to stray dogs was “illegal”. She argued that the civic body should put it on hold till the court decides.
“It is not only wasteful expenditure but will hinder the process of vaccination. Presently, the process is to punch the ears of dogs that have undergone surgery for birth control. During a vaccination drive in an area, the rules say that dogs that have been vaccinated have to be marked on their heads with a paint mark to target unvaccinated dogs further. Now, one needs to catch all stray dogs first to read the microchips on them to physically identify which have been vaccinated and which haven’t been. This will slow down the vaccination process,” she said .
Moreover, she said the installation of microchips is not without side effects and there have been cases of the dogs developing tumours, having oozing wounds where the microchips have been installed.
Tumor Development: There have been documented cases where dogs developed tumors at the site of microchip implantation. The most notable type of tumor reported is a form of cancer known as sarcoma. A study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association indicated that there is a potential risk for malignant tumors to develop around microchips due to chronic inflammation or foreign body reaction.
Oozing Wounds: In some instances, dogs have experienced oozing wounds at the site where the microchip was implanted. This can occur due to infection or an inflammatory response to the foreign object (the microchip) in the body.
However, Mr. Kishor said that while the rules stipulate microchips for pet dogs, it doesn’t bar from installation of microchips in stray dogs. “Rajkot in Gujarat has installed microchips in all stray dogs,” he said.
Legal Challenges Faced by BBMP
This initiative has faced significant opposition from animal rights activists and legal challenges. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed against BBMP’s microchipping plan by groups including Save Our Animals Charitable Trust and environmental activist Neveena Kamath. The petitioners argue that the BBMP lacks legal authority to implement such a program under existing Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules established in 2023. They contend that these rules do not permit microchipping for stray dogs and assert that such actions could lead to unnecessary stress and trauma for the animals involved.
The Karnataka High Court has been involved in reviewing this case. February 2025, the court did not issue an immediate stay on BBMP’s Request for Proposal (RFP) for procuring microchip readers, it scheduled further hearings to address the concerns raised by petitioners regarding legality and ethical considerations surrounding the microchipping process.
As of now, while BBMP continues with its plans pending court decisions, there is ongoing scrutiny regarding whether proper procedures were followed in launching this initiative. The court has issued notices to various governmental bodies including the Union government and animal welfare boards to clarify their positions on this matter.
The implications of this case could significantly affect how stray animals are managed in urban settings like Bengaluru.
Despite facing legal challenges, BBMP remains committed to moving forward with its plans for microchipping.
Ref:
- https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/bbmp-to-install-microchips-in-stray-dogs-in-the-city-project-challenged-in-hc/article69238880.ece
- https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/high-court-blocks-bengalurus-stray-dog-microchipping-initiative-amid-legal-dispute/articleshow/118127786.cms
- https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/proposal-to-fix-microchip-on-street-dogs-challenged-in-karnataka-high-court-3283110
- https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/263/4/javma.24.07.0463.xml
- https://www.vetinfo.com/the-side-effects-of-microchipping-dogs.html#google_vignette
Did microchips in dogs lead to more aggressive behavior, stress, and anxiety?
Microchips which contain components like a radio transmitter, antenna, computer chip, coil inductor with a magnetic core, and a capacitor, are not simple devices. These components interact with electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Research indicates that dogs can sense the earth’s magnetic field, and studies on humans and animals have shown that EMFs can have significant biological effects, including affecting the nervous system and potentially dissolving the blood-brain barrier. EMFs have also been found to affect parts of the brain involved in regulating learning, memory, mood, and behavior, and have been traced as a root cause of aggression and anxiety in animals in some research.
People have now observed severe and puzzling behavior problems in young dogs over the past decade, including severe separation anxiety and strangely intense fearfulness and aggression, often appearing around the age when dogs are typically microchipped (three-and-a-half to four months). This has led to the suspicion that microchips might be causing these issues. The theory is that EMFs could interfere with normal bio-electric information processes in the brain, which is largely composed of water and contains iron, both of which can be affected by EMFs.
This perspective concludes that microchips can have a negative impact on learning and behavior, potentially intensifying existing fearful or aggressive tendencies or causing new behavior problems such as unnatural fearfulness and aggression, exaggerated sensitivities to normal stimuli, anxiety, and hyperactivity. The author notes that when encountering unusual behavior in dogs without a history of trauma, the answer is invariably yes when asked if the dog has been microchipped.
Another source mentions “Behavior Changes” as a potential, though generally infrequent, complication reported by some pet owners after the microchipping procedure. This source advises consulting a veterinarian if sudden behavior changes are noticed.
While potential side effects like inflammation, migration, infection, pain, swelling, bleeding, hematoma, tumor formation, microchip failure, and nerve damage are also discussed in the provided content, the specific link to increased aggression, stress, and anxiety is highlighted in the context of potential behavioral impacts.
Ref:
- Canine Behavior: Do Microchips Cause Behavior Problems in Dogs? [https://kelleymethod.wixsite.com/ndtinnyc/single-post/2015/12/03/canine-behavior-do-microchips-cause-behavior-problems-in-dogs]
- Dog Microchip Complications [https://www.paolivet.com/health/dog-microchip-complications/]
- Pros and Cons of Microchipping Dogs [https://www.dogster.com/dog-health-care/pros-and-cons-of-microchipping-dogs]
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