Chennai's stray dog issue demands a leash on the problem

The Hindu

11-05-2025

Almost every morning at Shanthi Colony, Anna Nagar, residents are woken up to the howling of stray dogs. A. Abdul Rahim, president of the Madras Consumer Court Bar Association and resident of the area for five decades, says packs of dogs on the streets, mostly those abandoned by their owners, have become a regular menace in the neighbourhood. He says several incidents of dogs chasing vehicles and attempting to bite people have been reported near mosques during the early morning prayers. Mr. Rahim says stray dogs dominate streets, particularly near Tower Park and the Tower Club. 'Joggers are among those affected. Dogs often gather around dumps and bins,' he says, calling for amendments to the Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules, 2023.
The rules, formulated by the Union government, stipulate that after sterilisation and immunisation, street dogs be returned to the location from where they were captured. 'Dogs suspected of being rabid or exhibiting aggressive behaviour are to be isolated and observed... Aggressive dogs not suffering from rabies are to be treated and rehabilitated before release... The rules prohibit the relocation of stray dogs to new areas, as this can lead to territorial fights and the spread of diseases.'
Mindset is the problem
Shankar, a resident of R.A. Puram for more than 25 years and a dog lover, says individual mindset, rather than the nature of the animals, is the problem. Some people are averse to dogs and want them removed from streets. But it is not the right approach as stray dogs are part of the urban ecosystem. He says they have their territories and way of life, and their freedom is important. While he acknowledges that the stray dog population has declined over the past two decades, he calls for sterilisation to be improved. Most dogs, he says, are docile; only a few dogs have hostile behaviour. These dogs can be handled suitably, rather than being impounded.
According to the data from the Greater Chennai Corporation, 6,194 dogs were caught as of April 22 this year. Of them, 5,661 were sterilised. Sundar, a temporary dog catcher working for the Corporation for nearly 20 years, says dogs are caught only on complaints, and the operation is done from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. 'While some residents and volunteers prevent catchers from lifting dogs, some other residents often criticise us for bringing the sterilised dogs back to their original location, but they don't understand the ABC rules,' he says. The dogs caught at railway and Metro Rail stations are released in nearby areas after surgery. A zonal veterinary officer of the Corporation says most dog-bite complaints involve unowned pet dogs being let out on streets; in many cases, the owners neglect vaccination of and birth control procedure on their dogs.
Complaints about cats
As for impounding dogs, she says that clearing dogs from one area will lead to other street dogs arriving there for food. There has been an increase in complaints about stray cats because dogs become docile after surgery, the official adds.
'Pregnant and lactating mother dogs and puppies aged below seven months are returned as they are unfit for the ABC procedure. Lactation ranges from 45 days to 60 days, depending on the pups or their environment. Confining such dogs to shelters may cause depression and reduced immunity among the animals; and they would also contract illness or suffer injuries owing to pack dynamics,' the official says. Aggression among these street dogs often stems from trauma — if an animal met with an accident caused by a speeding vehicle or witnessed such an accident involving other dogs — and protective maternal instincts. Anger is not an inherent behaviour, she says.
Amid calls to control the street dog menace, the Tamil Nadu government plans to open shelters for abandoned dogs in every district. Shruti Vinod Raj, a member of the Tamil Nadu Animal Welfare Board (TNAWB), says 100 ABC centres will be opened across the State. This proposal was discussed at a recent multi-departmental meeting. The TNAWB will monitor the catching of dogs and the ABC procedure.
Ms. Raj says 500 veterinarians will be trained to meet the shortage. Licensing of pet dogs is being mandated to trace owners and reduce abandonment. She says sterilisation is now being done on complaints, and the TNAWB has asked the Chennai Corporation to increase the number of dogs caught for sterilisation. 'One ABC centre is planned at every zone. This is expected to bring down the stray dog population in 5-6 years, with a marked improvement in a decade,' she says.
Unprovoked attacks
On complaints about ferocious dogs, Ms. Shruti clarifies that a few dogs are aggressive, and they are mostly pet dogs. Unprovoked attacks are usually due to rabies; such dogs are isolated and observed for 45 days by the local body. If rabid, they are sheltered; if not, they are released. She says pet dog bites are more common than street dog bites. The Corporation quarantines dogs involved in bite incidents. The Supreme Court rulings have placed the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the ABC Rules above the local body laws.