Rabies Vaccination – Chennai Plans Massive Drive to Protect Nearly Two Lakh Dogs

Rabies Vaccination – The Greater Chennai Corporation is preparing to roll out a large-scale vaccination programme aimed at strengthening protection against rabies while improving the welfare of stray and pet dogs across the city. Scheduled to begin during the second week of August, the campaign is expected to cover every zone of Chennai and reach nearly two lakh stray dogs.

Vaccination Campaign to Cover Stray and Pet Dogs

As part of the initiative, civic authorities will administer free anti-rabies vaccines to stray dogs throughout the city. Pet owners will also be able to access complimentary anti-rabies and anti-parasite vaccinations for their dogs. Officials have encouraged residents to participate actively by bringing their pets to the designated vaccination points, saying broader community involvement is essential for improving public and animal health.

Last year, the Corporation vaccinated nearly 1.47 lakh stray dogs when the city’s stray dog population was estimated at around 1.80 lakh. Since officials believe the number of stray animals has grown over the past year, the vaccination target has now been increased to approximately two lakh dogs.

Expansion of Birth Control Facilities

The vaccination programme is being carried out alongside efforts to strengthen Chennai’s Animal Birth Control (ABC) network. At present, 11 out of the city’s 15 ABC centres are operational. Two additional centres, located at Nandambakkam and Perungudi, are expected to start functioning next week.

Authorities have also confirmed that the remaining facilities at Athipattu in Ambattur and Sholinganallur are likely to become operational by the fourth week of August. Once all centres are fully functional, the city’s ability to carry out sterilisation procedures is expected to increase significantly.

Sterilisation Capacity Expected to Double

Currently, the existing ABC centres perform around 200 sterilisation surgeries every day. With the addition of the new facilities, officials expect that capacity to rise to nearly 400 procedures daily.

Since January this year, the Corporation has completed close to 24,000 sterilisation surgeries on stray dogs. The monthly numbers have shown consistent growth, increasing from 1,490 procedures in January to 2,493 in February and 3,058 in March. The upward trend continued with 3,259 surgeries in April, 3,637 in May, and 4,765 in June. July recorded the highest monthly total so far, with 5,324 surgeries completed.

Animal Welfare Groups Raise Operational Concerns

While the campaign has been welcomed as an important public health measure, some animal welfare organisations have expressed concerns about the process used during the capture and vaccination of stray dogs. Activists have called for greater attention to the humane handling of animals throughout the operation.

Questions have also been raised about maintaining proper cold-chain conditions for vaccine storage and transportation, as well as ensuring that vaccinated dogs are safely released back into the same locations from which they were picked up.

Corporation Responds to Allegations

The Greater Chennai Corporation has dismissed claims of improper vaccine management, stating that all vaccines are stored and transported according to the required safety standards. Officials have maintained that established protocols are being followed to preserve vaccine quality during the campaign.

The civic body has also appealed for cooperation from residents, including pet owners, local animal feeders, volunteers and rescue groups. Officials believe that wider public participation will help expand vaccination coverage, strengthen animal welfare efforts and reduce the risk of rabies transmission across Chennai in the coming months.