Shelters to be set up in Tiruchi to relocate stray dogs

Following a Supreme Court directive to remove stray dogs from public spaces and relocate them to designated shelters, the Tiruchi City Corporation has commenced work to establish such facilities. Four shelters are proposed to house aggressive, abandoned, aged, and sick stray dogs.

The stray dog menace has been particularly severe in public spaces, including government offices, bus stands, residential townships, defence and railway areas, railway stations, educational institutions, hospitals, BHEL premises, and near the airport, where the animals easily find food.

According to Corporation officials, the proposed shelters will be established near the Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres functioning in each zone, to provide safe accommodation and continued care for sterilised and vaccinated stray dogs under the Corporation’s ABC programme.

At present, the city has four animal birth control centres at Ambedkar Nagar in Srirangam zone, Konakkarai in the Abishekapuram zone, J.J. Nagar in the Ponmalai zone, and one near the dump yard in Ariyamangalam zone.

A sum of ₹30 lakh had been allocated for each shelter, which will feature kennels, feeding areas, and basic medical infrastructure for first aid, vaccination, and post-operative care. The facilities will have secured compounds to ensure the safety of the animals. The initiative aims at addressing concerns over public safety while ensuring the welfare of animals in accordance with legal guidelines.

“Four non-governmental organisations have expressed interest in maintaining the shelters. Each shelter will be operated by one NGO, which will also appoint a veterinarian to care for sick animals,” said Corporation Commissioner L. Madhubalan. The work is expected to be completed within a month.

A recent city-wide survey estimated the number of stray dogs at 43,767. Under its ongoing animal birth control programme, the Corporation has sterilised over 29,565 street dogs between April 2023 and November 2025, with an ear notch made to indicate the animal had undergone the procedure. Anti-rabies vaccines had been administered to 34,565 dogs.