Chennais Stray Dog Population Soars to 181,000, Mayor Plans Sterilization Initiative!
The stray dog population in Chennai has surged to 181,000 from 58,000 in 2018, according to a recent survey by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) released by Mayor R. Priya. Ambattur zone has the highest number of stray dogs at 23,980, with only 18% sterilized. The GCC plans to sterilize dogs over six months old across all 15 zones.
The survey, conducted by World Veterinary Service in July, revealed that 27% of the total stray dogs have been sterilized. Alandur zone leads with 57% sterilization and the lowest population at 4,875. In contrast, only 19% and 21% of stray dogs in Tondiarpet and Manali, respectively, are sterilized.
Mayor Priya emphasized the need for controlling the population, noting that overfeeding by residents contributes to the increase. Civic activist Aarani Sreenivasan highlighted concerns about abandoned pets near Madras Veterinary College, exacerbated by poor waste management.
