ABC sterilisation, anti-rabies vaccination drives intensified in Thoothukudi; 408 dogs sterilised, 3,163 vaccinated in eight months

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In the last eight months, Thoothukudi Corporation has sterilised 408 stray dogs under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme and administered Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV) to 3,163 stray dogs.

According to an official from Thoothukudi Corporation, earlier the Corporation has carried out ABC programme for stray dogs with the assistance of Animal Husbandry Department and Tamil Nadu Animal Welfare Board (TNAWB) at the veterinary dispensary at Pudukottai. Following that, the dogs were kept under observation at the shelter at the Corporation’s Tharuvaikulam dumping yard before being released.

However in July, he added that the Corporation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the a NGO called RAIN (Rescuing Animals in Need), and the ABC sterilisation began at a renovated shed at the Corporation’s dumping yard which comprises an operation theater and kennel.

The official added after the entry of NGO into the sterilisation programme, 60 to 80 stray dogs per week were being sterilised and administered with ARV, and the programme was being implemented in a phased manner.

Mentioning that stray dogs in the streets and public spaces of Thoothukudi Corporation were earlier administered with ARV though dedicated drive once a week, he said the vaccination drive was now conducted everyday based on the complaints from the public. He said the plans were also under way to register the number of dogs sterilised under ABC on the TNAWB portal and Bharat Pashudhan Portal.

The official further stated the number of stray dogs sterilised under the ABC programme had increased significantly over the past two months compared with previous months.

Speaking to The Hindu , Thoothukudi Corporation Commissioner S. Priyanka said that along with ABC sterilisation ARV drive has also been intensified within the Corporation limits. She added that the Corporation was constructing another ABC centre at Muthiahpuram and animal shelter at Tharuvaikulam dumping yard, to ensure regular monitoring and control of the stray dog population in the city. She also urged the residents to feed the stray dogs only at 36 designated feeding points in the city to help control the stray dog population.

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