Chennai Launches Drive to Vaccinate 2 Lakh Stray Dogs Against Rabies
The first phase of the campaign began in the Tiruvottiyur, Manali and Tondiarpet zones
CHENNAI: Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) on Tuesday launched a massive anti-rabies vaccination and deworming drive targeting two lakh stray dogs across the city, as part of its efforts to make Chennai rabies-free.
The first phase of the campaign began in the Tiruvottiyur, Manali and Tondiarpet zones. The campaign was inaugurated at the Perambur MLA’s office premises in Tondiarpet by Corporation joint commissioner (health) Shreya P. Singh, north regional deputy commissioner Swetha Suman and Tamil Nadu Housing Board chairman V. Siva.
The officials also flagged off a vehicle deployed for catching and vaccinating stray dogs in Tondiarpet.
A separate vaccination camp for Tiruvottiyur and Manali zones was held at the veterinary office premises on Kamarajar Salai in Manali. Free anti-rabies vaccination and treatment for internal and external parasites were also provided to pets at the camps.
Under the programme, stray dogs will be caught from the streets where they live using nets by trained dog-catching personnel. Veterinary doctors will administer anti-rabies vaccines and endectoparasiticidal medication before the dogs are marked with vegetable dye and released back at the same location.
The Corporation said the drive would cover stray dogs found on streets as well as in and around educational institutions, hospitals, railway stations and other public places.
As many as 30 teams have been deployed for the campaign, with each team expected to vaccinate around 100 stray dogs a day. This would enable the Corporation to vaccinate approximately 3,000 dogs every day, with 10 teams operating simultaneously in each of the three zones during the first phase.
The campaign will be conducted for 14 days in Tiruvottiyur, nine days in Manali and 14 days in Tondiarpet. It will subsequently be extended to all other zones as the Corporation is aiming to vaccinate around 2 lakh dogs within 75 working days.
Pet owners can also utilise the camps to get their dogs and cats vaccinated against rabies, free of cost.
