BENGALURU: A community-focused animal welfare programme named “MOTI” (Movement of Trust & Inclusion) has been launched in Bengaluru by the Bengaluru civic administration to promote adoption of community dogs and encourage responsible human-animal coexistence, with at least four Indie dogs adopted on the day of the launch. The initiative, held at Cubbon Park, aims to strengthen structured adoption practices and improve care for free-roaming dogs in the city through public participation and coordinated civic efforts.
The programme was inaugurated by Daljit Kumar, who formally launched the initiative by placing water bowls for community dogs and urging residents to participate in adoption and animal welfare activities. Officials said the initiative is designed to encourage adoption of Indie or community dogs, reduce dependence on commercial pet breeding, and promote humane treatment of stray animals in urban areas.
As part of the launch, civic authorities organised a walkathon with community dogs, along with awareness sessions on responsible pet ownership. The event also included participation from animal welfare organisations, volunteers, and residents. Officials said the programme is intended to build a stronger community engagement model for managing stray and community dogs through adoption and care awareness.
The civic body arranged basic health checks, vaccination drives, and adoption kits during the event. The kits included food supplies, collars, and water bowls, which were handed over to adopters after completion of required veterinary procedures. Authorities confirmed that the adopted dogs underwent vaccination and basic health screening, including anti-rabies immunisation, before being placed with families.
Officials said the MOTI initiative is part of a broader effort by the civic administration to improve animal welfare practices and strengthen implementation of existing urban animal management programmes, including Animal Birth Control (ABC) and Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV) drives. These programmes are aimed at controlling the stray dog population through sterilisation and vaccination while improving public health safety and animal welfare outcomes.
Animal welfare representatives present at the event said that community dogs, commonly referred to as Indies, are generally adapted to urban environments and can be successfully integrated into households through structured adoption programmes. They noted that awareness campaigns and adoption drives are important to address challenges related to street dog population management, abandonment, and lack of awareness about adoption procedures.
Officials said the initiative also aims to reduce misconceptions about community dogs and encourage citizens to view them as potential adoptable pets rather than unowned animals. They added that structured adoption programmes help ensure that animals receive vaccination, proper nutrition, and long-term care, while also supporting civic efforts to manage stray populations in a humane manner.
The civic body plans to expand the MOTI initiative through regular adoption camps, awareness drives, and collaboration with animal welfare organisations across Bengaluru. Future events are expected to include similar features such as health screening, vaccination services, and on-site adoption facilitation.
Authorities said monitoring mechanisms may also be introduced to track adopted animals and ensure compliance with basic care standards. Officials added that the programme will be integrated with existing civic animal welfare frameworks to create a more coordinated approach to urban animal management.
Animal welfare groups in Bengaluru have reported increasing public participation in adoption and care initiatives in recent years. Officials said the MOTI programme is expected to build on this trend by making adoption more accessible and structured, while also improving awareness about responsible pet ownership and community animal care.
The civic administration said further details on upcoming adoption events and programme expansion will be announced in the coming weeks.
