Residents urge Coimbatore Corporation to increase sterilisation of stray dogs

Coimbatore residents push for more stray dog sterilisations amid concerns over population growth and improper handling.

Residents have urged the Coimbatore Corporation to focus on increasing sterilisations for the city’s stray dog population.

A recent response to N.R. Ravishankar, a local activist, revealed that only 7,018 of the city’s 1,11,074 dogs were sterilised in 2023.

The Corporation operates three Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres, maintained by NGOs, and has three dog-catching vehicles.

M. Meenakshi, a dog feeder, expressed concern about the growing population of street dogs, noting that as the number of dogs increases, many do not receive proper food, which raises the risk of accidents. She emphasised the need for greater focus on sterilisation. However, she pointed out that the Corporation-run ABC centres are often unresponsive, citing reasons such as a lack of drivers or vehicle repairs. On several occasions, she had to spend her own money to transport dogs to a nearby private veterinary clinic.

Another resident raised concerns about improper handling during the dog-catching process. “Dogs are sometimes caught in one area and released in another, leading to territorial fights among local dogs. This can cause injuries and increase the risk of rabies. The civic body must ensure that dogs are caught and released properly,” the resident said.

A Corporation official from the Health Department responded, stating that they have instructed NGOs to follow proper procedures and increase the sterilisation rate. They also mentioned that a new ABC centre has been opened at the Vellalore dump yard premises at a cost of ₹75 lakh. Additionally, three new dog-catching vehicles are being modified at a cost of ₹11 lakh to improve the process.