Over 5,000 stray dogs sterilised by Salem Corporation this year

The Salem Corporation has sterilised a total of 5,042 stray dogs until September this year.

There are 60 wards in Salem Corporation, accommodating over 10 lakh people in four zones. After COVID-19, the population of stray dogs increased, with dog bite incidents reported. In response, the Salem Corporation increased its efforts to sterilise the stray dogs.

The Corporation identified areas like Alagapuram, Hasthampatti, Annathanapatti, Sooramangalam, Ponnammapet, Ammapet, Gorimedu, and Periya Pudur, where stray dogs were found in large numbers. Corporation workers were trained on capturing stray dogs as per the guidelines. After sterilisation, the stray dog were released back at locations from where they were captured.

From 2021 to 2025, sterilisation was performed for a total of 21,066 dogs, including 695 dogs in 2021, 3,169 in 2022, 4,668 in 2023, 10,102 in 2024, and 2,432 in 2025. 

Officials at the Salem Corporation said special camps are being conducted in the four zones—Ammapet, Kondalampatti, Hasthampatti, and Sooramangalam—for vaccinating stray dogs as well as pet dogs. As per Corporation data, there are 31,519 stray dogs in 60 wards. The sterilisation for the dogs was performed at the Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres in Vaikkalpattarai and Shevapet.

From January 1, 2026, to September 30, 2026, sterilisation was performed on 5,042 stray dogs and 23,505 strays were vaccinated. Every month, sterilisation is being performed on 600 to 650 stray dogs and around 2,500 stray dogs are being vaccinated, officials added.