08 September,2026 07:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi Alurkar
The dogs being fed on the University of Mumbai’s Kalina campus. File pics/by special arrangement
Along with students and educators, the University of Mumbai's sprawling Kalina campus is also home to several free-ranging dogs, whose welfare has now become a point of contention between animal feeders and university officials.
Feeders who have cared for the dogs for years claim the university has stopped them from entering the campus and feeding the dogs, with the animals allegedly going without food for nearly 10 days.
Vikrant Urval, a Wadala resident who began caring for the campus dogs during the pandemic, said the feeders have also helped neuter them. "We have been looking after these dogs for years now, both feeding and neutering them. Keeping them hungry for days in a row is a serious risk to their health and may even cause behavioural changes," he said.
He explained that dogs are territorial and don't eat at just one spot, which is why it cannot be left up to the students and faculty to look after them. While activists are in talks with university officials, the restriction on feeding remains. "We understand that not everybody may be a dog lover, but these animals were born within the campus itself and should not bear the brunt of rash decisions," he said.
Citizens have submitted a representation to university officials and BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, seeking time until BMC stray dog shelters are ready and the animals can be relocated there responsibly. In the interim, they have sought multiple designated feeding spots and ID cards for feeders to regulate feeding on the university grounds.
"The Kalina campus is a huge land plot and even students who may be interested can't reach all the dogs. Some of these animals are young puppies who totally depend on feeders for food," said Gurudev Singh, a Santacruz resident and another animal feeder.
Nitin Nanavare, a member of the Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS), said the group has also taken up the issue with the authorities. "We have written to the authorities on Sunday and have asked for action within 24 hours. We are prepared to protest if the authorities fail to react speedily," he said.
The University of Mumbai is complying with the order issued from time to time by the Supreme Court and the government. Internal feeding has not been stopped.
78 dogs neutered
16 dogs not neutered
94 total dogs
All vaccinated
