Feeding shelters for community dogs to come up in Tiruchi

With increasing complaints of dogs causing a nuisance to residents and commuters, Tiruchi City Corporation has planned to set up feeding shelters for sterilized community canines

With increasing complaints of dogs causing a nuisance to residents and commuters, Tiruchi City Corporation has planned to set up feeding shelters for sterilized community canines.

Since stray dogs have to be returned to their original location after the sterilisation process, they continue to roam the streets, posing a threat to public safety. Lack of adequate food and shelter can exacerbate their behaviour, leading to increased ferocity.

Officials said that the stray dog menace was high near the defence and railway areas, railway stations, hospitals, BHEL premises, and airport.

As a solution, a dedicated space has been earmarked for the feeding shelter on the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital premises. The authorities would ensure that the dogs get food three times a day. Leftover food from hospital and college kitchens can be used as feed. The initiative would be expanded depending on its outcome.

“Complaints of stray dog menace are increasing every day. We aim to completely sterilise the dogs within a few months and set up feeding shelters in their community,” said M. Vijay Chandran, City Health Officer.

As many as 22,059 street dogs were sterilised between October 2022 and December 2024, with an ear notch made to indicate the animal had undergone the procedure. Anti-rabies vaccines and antiparasitic drugs have been administered to the animals.

The number of stray dogs in the city was estimated at 26,000 to 27,000. Officials said the rate of increase in the number will come down in the next few months as the pace of the drive gains momentum.