As of August 4, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has caught 10,401 canines and accomplished 9,901 ABC surgical procedures. An official within the civic physique mentioned there isn’t a consolidation of the expenditure for the street-dog associated points. “Last 12 months, GCC spent over ₹55 lakh for medicines and this 12 months, it will be for ₹85 lakh. Each veterinarian is paid ₹350 per surgical procedure per male canine and ₹450 per feminine canine, within the 5 ABC centres in Pulianthope, Kannammapet, Lloyd’s Colony, Meenambakkam, and Sholinganallur,” official added.
“Further, there are 78 canine catchers for all 15 zones who’re paid ₹753 per day, and 45 extra might be added as quickly as 9 extra canine catching autos are deployed,” an official mentioned. Notably, these bulletins had been made throughout the GCC Budget session in February 21, 2024.
Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Karti P. Chidambaram referred to as for a policy-level change to deal with the problem.
“The current methodology of vaccinating and sterilising canines, then releasing them again onto the streets, shouldn’t be working. These canines typically trigger highway accidents. GCC lacks the funds, manpower, and services. Co-existence on streets shouldn’t be acceptable. Dogs and cattle can’t be in a free roaming state within the streets. The Corporation should have the wherewithal to vaccinate and sterilise all of the free-roaming canines in Chennai and transfer them to shelters. A coverage shift is urgently wanted. If individuals want to undertake, that must also be inspired,” he mentioned.
Ward 61 Councillor Fathima Muzaffar of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) mentioned,”Four months in the past, a schoolgirl was bitten by road canines in my ward in Egmore. Medical consideration was offered, however the psychological trauma will stay perpetually. A probe committee needs to be convened to gather and analyse knowledge on canine bites, together with incident numbers, areas, remedy acquired (personal or authorities), follow-up actions, and vaccinations administered to assist in understanding and addressing the problem higher.”
T.Fouzia Begum, an advocate on the Madras High Court and an animal activist, mentioned, “There aren’t any services for sheltering lakhs of canines. If they’re all amassed in a single location, they might develop ailments. Dogs usually don’t get aggressive except they’re contaminated, there’s something triggering or to guard the pups.”
Ms. Fouziya mentioned, “Abandoning pets happens when adopters face strain from owners and neighbours, which have to be stopped. Further, conflicts typically come up between locals and GCC volunteers. In Kasimedu, a volunteer was attacked by locals for feeding road canines. One needn’t be an animal lover, however attacking animals or feeders have to be averted — youngsters needs to be educated on this,” she added.
Meanwhile, in a examine launched in April 2024, Krithika Srinivasan, principal investigator of a analysis undertaking on road canines and public well being (ROH-Indies), really useful that eradicating road canines from their neighbourhoods must be averted aside from in distinctive circumstances similar to instances of rabies or verified instances of repeated aggression. The full eradication of road canines, whether or not via killing, contraception or elimination, shouldn’t be advisable, examine acknowledged.
The GCC official mentioned the tender for microchipping stray canines was finalised and that for pet canines might be finalised by this month. Later, rules for pet homeowners similar to vaccinations, penalties for abandoning and so forth., might be fomulated. So far, solely 11,000 have licensed their pets, he added.
He acknowledged, “Housing 1.8 lakh canines completely shouldn’t be possible, however critically unwell canines may be sheltered if permitted by regulation. GCC will enhance ABC operations from 20,000 to 50,000 per 30 days after establishing 10 extra facilities within the subsequent three months, which ought to assist cut back the problem.”
