NewKerala.com

Tamil Nadu's Animal Welfare Push: 76 Officers, 138 Centers for Stray Dogs

Tamil Nadu is taking significant steps to address its stray dog population through a comprehensive new program. The state will appoint 76 animal welfare officers to oversee sterilization and vaccination efforts. Additionally, 138 new centers are being established to support these animal control operations. This initiative represents one of Tamil Nadu's most ambitious animal welfare programs combining public health and humane management.

Key Points: Tamil Nadu Appoints 76 Animal Welfare Officers for Stray Dogs

  • 76 district-level animal welfare officers appointed for one-year contractual terms
  • 138 new centers established including 38 with shelter facilities
  • Mass anti-rabies vaccination campaign coordinated with local bodies
  • 2.4 lakh RFID tags to microchip sterilized dogs for tracking
2 min read

TN to appoint 76 animal welfare officers, set up 138 new centres for stray dog control

Tamil Nadu launches major stray dog control initiative with 76 animal welfare officers and 138 new centers for sterilization and rabies vaccination across the state.

"The veterinary surgeons will handle ABC surgeries, provide post-operative care, and administer vaccines. - Senior Department Official"

Chennai, Oct 28

In a major step toward curbing the stray dog population and preventing rabies outbreaks, the Tamil Nadu Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services has announced the appointment of 76 district-level animal welfare officers across the state as part of a large-scale sterilisation and immunisation drive.

The initiative will be implemented in coordination with the Tamil Nadu Animal Welfare Board (TNAWB), which is preparing to roll out a mass anti-rabies vaccination campaign in collaboration with corporations, municipalities, and town panchayats outside Chennai.

The move comes amid growing concerns over stray dog attacks and the spread of zoonotic diseases.

According to a recent government order, the 76 new appointees will include 38 district-level animal welfare officers and 38 veterinary surgeons with expertise in Animal Birth Control (ABC) surgeries.

These positions will be filled on a one-year contractual basis, with extensions possible based on performance and requirements.

The recruitment process is expected to be completed by the first week of December. The newly-appointed officers will oversee multiple responsibilities - from ensuring the humane conduct of traditional events such as jallikattu and taking legal action in cases of animal cruelty, to conducting awareness campaigns on responsible pet ownership, rabies prevention, and sterilisation.

To strengthen infrastructure for the upcoming drive, the department has also proposed the establishment of 38 new ABC centres with shelter facilities capable of accommodating up to 100 dogs each.

Additionally, another 100 centres are planned without shelter facilities, focusing exclusively on sterilisation and vaccination procedures. In a bid to scientifically track and manage the state's stray dog population, the TNAWB has initiated the procurement of 2.4 lakh RFID (radio frequency identification) tags to microchip sterilised and vaccinated dogs. This will help local bodies monitor coverage and prevent duplication.

"The veterinary surgeons will handle ABC surgeries, provide post-operative care, and administer vaccines. Supporting staff for the operation of these centres will also be appointed soon," said a senior official from the department.

The large-scale programme marks one of Tamil Nadu's most comprehensive efforts in animal welfare, combining public health goals with humane management of stray animals.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Great initiative by TN government! The RFID tagging is a smart move to track sterilized dogs. Hope other states follow this model. Animal welfare and public health both addressed properly.
A
Arjun K
While I appreciate the effort, I'm concerned about the one-year contractual basis. Animal welfare needs long-term commitment, not temporary solutions. Hope they extend these positions based on actual need.
S
Sarah B
As someone who works with animal rescue, this is much needed! The combination of sterilization, vaccination and proper tracking can really make a difference. Hope they implement it effectively across all districts.
V
Vikram M
Good step but implementation is key. Many such schemes fail due to corruption and lack of monitoring. Hope they have proper accountability systems in place. The awareness campaigns are crucial too - people need to understand responsible pet ownership.
K
Kavya N
This is wonderful news! 🐕 The inclusion of jallikattu monitoring shows they're thinking holistically about animal welfare. Hope this reduces the suffering of street dogs while making our communities safer.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50