Corporation to start door-to-door survey of pet dogs and cats on November 24

Starting November 24, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) will send workers to survey pet animals in households in all the zones of the city, to collect reliable and valid information aboutdogs and cats at homes.

The GCC will start collecting afine of₹5,000 from residents who do not have a license for pets duringthe door-to-door survey after November24.

The residents have been requested to get an online pet license for dogs and cats before November23. The license fee is ₹50 for a pet every year. GCC has started microchipping of pet dogs on October 8 at six pet clinics in Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Pulianthope, Kannammapet, Lloyds Colony, Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam.

“Microchipping of pet dogs is done free of chargeat the six pet clinics of GCC. Anti rabies vaccination for the animals is also done free of charge at the clinics,” said an official.

The number of pet dogs in the 15 zones of GCC is estimated at one lakh. However, only 105 pet dogs in the city have been microchipped so far.

GCC has exempted cats from microchipping. But an anti-rabies vaccine for cats is mandatory in the city. The micro-chipped dogs will be tracked by the GCC.

“Last year, 9,034 licenses were issued for pet dogs and cats. License for dogs and cats is compulsory. But, this year, GCC has issued only 3,401 pet licenses so far. We will sensitise residents to the measures taken by GCC to regulate pet licensing. We will inform all residents welfare associations through the GCC Revenue Department about the pet survey, licensing of pet dogs, anti-rabies vaccine and microchipping of dogs,” said an official.

GCC has done microchipping of 12,000 stray dogs. The number of stray dogs is estimated at 1.8 lakh. Once the GCC opens 10 new animal birth control centres in January, the civic body is expected to increase the ABC surgeries to 400 every day. Currently, GCC carries out ABC surgeries for 100 stray dogs every day at the five centres.