Chennai, Aug 5
The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) will launch a citywide anti-rabies vaccination campaign in the second week of August, targeting around two lakh stray dogs as part of efforts to curb rabies and strengthen animal welfare measures across the city.
The drive will cover all Corporation zones and will be accompanied by free anti-rabies and anti-parasite vaccination for pet dogs. The civic body has urged pet owners to use the facility and ensure that their animals are adequately protected.
The GCC vaccinated around 1.47 lakh stray dogs last year, when Chennai’s stray dog population was estimated at nearly 1.80 lakh. With officials estimating that the population has since increased, the vaccination target has been raised to two lakh this year.
The drive coincides with a major expansion of the city’s Animal Birth Control (ABC) infrastructure. Of the 15 ABC centres in Chennai, 11 are currently operational. Centres at Nandambakkam and Perungudi are expected to start functioning next week, while facilities at Athipattu in Ambattur and Sholinganallur are scheduled to open by the fourth week of August.
Once all 15 centres become operational, the Corporation expects its sterilisation capacity to rise from about 200 surgeries a day to nearly 400.
Nearly 24,000 birth control surgeries have been performed on stray dogs since January. Monthly procedures increased steadily from 1,490 in January to 5,324 in July, the highest recorded so far this year.
The vaccination campaign comes amid concerns from animal welfare activists about the handling of dogs during capture and vaccination and the maintenance of the required cold chain for vaccines.
The GCC has rejected allegations of improper vaccine handling, saying prescribed safeguards are followed during storage and transportation.
Officials have also sought the cooperation of residents, animal feeders and rescuers to improve vaccination coverage, ensure the safe return of vaccinated dogs to their territories and reduce the risk of rabies transmission across Chennai.
