Chennai has 1.8 lakh stray dogs: Corporation tells Madras High Court

Greater Chennai Corporation announced the opening of 10 new animal birth and control centres. It also launched a ‘Rabies Free Chennai’ programme to vaccinate pets and Chennai stray dogs across all 15 zones within 60 days.

The Corporation, along with the UK-based Worldwide Veterinary Services (WVS), informed the Madras High Court on Thursday, August 14, 2025, that Chennai has nearly 180,000 stray dogs within its limits.

In its report to Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice Sunder Mohan, the GCC confirmed its efforts to achieve a ‘Rabies Free Chennai.’ It started a massive anti-rabies vaccination drive for both street and pet dogs on August 9, 2025.

The Corporation also committed to cover all 200 divisions in its 15 zones within 60 days. This report directly responded to a public interest litigation (PIL) petition that highlighted the suffering caused by dog bites, especially among children.

Filing the report for the GCC, CVO J. Kamal Hussain stated that the corporation now requires every pet owner to obtain an online pet licence by uploading pictures of both the owners and pets, along with proof of residence and anti-rabies vaccination (ARV) certificates.

So far, pet owners have obtained 11,630 online licences. They must take responsibility for controlled breeding, immunisation, neutering, and licensing. The corporation also advised licence holders to prevent their pets from causing any public nuisance or health hazard.

The civic body further directed owners not to allow their pets to defecate on roads, streets, drains, or other public places. If a pet defecates in such areas, the owner must clean the excreta and dispose of it in a bag.

Additionally, the CVO confirmed that on 30 January 2025, the Corporation Council passed a resolution making microchipping of pet dogs mandatory.

Stray dogs

Listing the measures taken for controlling stray dogs in Chennai, Mr. Hussain said that the Animal Birth Control Rules 2023 require the civic body to sterilise and vaccinate stray dogs. They must then release the dogs at the same places from where they were picked up.

Accordingly, the civic body captures stray dogs and takes them to the five ABC centres at Pulianthope, Llyods Colony, Kannammapettai, Meenambakkam, and Shozhinganallur. After surgery or vaccination, officials release the dogs back at their original locations, he explained.

“In 2022, officials caught 21,319 stray dogs across Chennai. Out of these, officials found 16,591 fit for surgery. In 2023, the number of dogs caught rose to 19,640. However, they cleared only 14,885 for surgery. In 2024, they caught 20,296 dogs, and 14,678 underwent surgery,” the CVO told the court.

He further disclosed that the corporation had decided to establish 10 more ABC centres in the city. Their construction will finish within three months. After that, the civic body plans to undertake about 50,000 surgeries each year.

The official told the court that workers trap the dogs with butterfly nets. The corporation currently operates 23 specially designed dog-transport vans. It also plans to purchase nine more. Each vehicle carries five dog catchers and a driver, he said.

The CVO added that since November 2024, the GCC has been collaring stray dogs with QR code tags and microchips. This process allows the team to capture, release, and track the animals using the latest technology.

After reviewing the report, the judges adjourned the hearing on the PILs for three months. They are waiting for the Supreme Court’s order on the issue of handling stray dogs. Meanwhile, the court advised the corporation to protect the interests of both humans and animals.