Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai
Chennai, Oct 23: The Greater Chennai Corporation has vaccinated 1,50,303 stray dogs against rabies under a special campaign aimed at protecting residents and achieving the goal of a rabies-free city, Corporation Commissioner G S Sameeran said on Thursday.
The vaccination drive, conducted from August 11 to October 21, also included treatment for internal and external parasites.
According to the corporation, the campaign is part of efforts to implement the Chief Minister’s directive to make Tamil Nadu free of rabies. The mass vaccination and parasite-control programme covers stray dogs across all 15 zones of the corporation.
Special camps are currently continuing in Valasaravakkam, Adyar and Sholinganallur, a corporation statement said.
Among the zones covered, Ambattur recorded the highest number of vaccinations, with 21,844 stray dogs receiving anti-rabies vaccines and parasite treatment. Madhavaram followed with 15,038 dogs, while 13,849 dogs were covered in Thiru Vi Ka Nagar.
The corporation vaccinated 12,752 dogs in Perungudi, 12,477 in Tondiarpet and 12,313 in Tiruvottiyur. Another 11,895 dogs were covered in Anna Nagar and 10,131 in Kodambakkam.
In Royapuram, 8,598 stray dogs received vaccination and treatment, while 7,782 dogs were covered in Teynampet, 7,200 in Manali and 4,343 in Alandur.
In the three zones where the camps are still underway, the corporation has vaccinated 3,943 dogs in Valasaravakkam, 3,985 in Adyar and 4,153 in Sholinganallur as of October 21. These dogs also received treatment against internal and external parasites.
The civic body said the special camps were intended to protect the public from rabies while ensuring preventive veterinary care for stray dogs across the city. By combining anti-rabies vaccination with parasite treatment, the programme aims to improve animal health while reducing the risk of rabies transmission.
Sameeran appealed to residents, pet owners and animal welfare activists to cooperate with the corporation in conducting the vaccination drive and achieving its ‘Rabies-Free Chennai’ objective.
The corporation stressed that public participation and support from animal welfare groups would be important in helping eliminate rabies from the city.