Chennai, February 10 (IANS). Weeks after the Supreme Court’s eight-week deadline to remove stray dogs from public places expired, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is yet to implement a complete shifting system, and the process has been slowed down by a severe shortage of shelters.
In November 2025, the court directed civic bodies to remove stray dogs from public areas to address the growing concerns over public safety.
In response, the GCC announced financial assistance in December, offering Rs 50 per day towards food expenses for each dog and Rs 750 per day for shelters with more than 20 dogs.
However, despite financial support, most NGOs are hesitant to come forward citing lack of space and infrastructure.
Officials acknowledged that almost all authorized shelters are already running at full capacity.
Tamil Nadu Animal Welfare Board (TNAB) gave a list of eight approved NGOs, but currently none is in a position to keep the animals.
Talks are underway with the two organisations, while other interested groups on the outskirts of the city are also facing similar space constraints. So far, little action has been taken.
Recently, 40 stray dogs were removed from the Madras High Court premises. Of these, 21 were shifted to an NGO shelter in Nemmeli, while the remaining dogs were adopted. Meanwhile, a city-wide survey was promised to estimate the stray dog population, which is yet to begin.
On the other hand, to overcome the shortage of space, GCC has identified land to build two special shelters at Madhavaram and Velachery. Each site is expected to house 250 dogs, including those with rabies, canine distemper or angry behavior.
The corporation has given tenders to NGOs to manage these shelters, whose construction and operational work is targeted to be completed by the end of March.
–IANS
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