In a move to ensure public safety and improve animal welfare, the Vellore Corporation, in collaboration with the Department of Animal Husbandry, has officially launched a large-scale rabies vaccination and sterilization campaign for community dogs. This initiative, which follows the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules 2001, was kicked off on Thursday with a ceremony led by Vellore Collector V.R. Subbulaxmi.
Leaders Join Hands for a Healthier Vellore
The inauguration of the program took place at the town's veterinary clinic, where Collector Subbulaxmi was joined by Mayor Sujatha Anandakumar and Corporation Commissioner P. Janaki Raveendran. Officials highlighted the dual purpose of the drive: reducing rabies transmission and curbing the town's rapidly growing stray dog population.
Over 37,000 Community Dogs Identified
According to G. Anduvan, Assistant Director at the Department of Animal Husbandry, more than 37,000 community dogs have been identified across Vellore's four municipal zones, up from just 9,000 a decade ago. An additional 15,000 dogs have been counted in nearby villages, underscoring the scale of the challenge.
“The first phase of the drive is meant to vaccinate identified community dogs, mainly in Vellore town, before sterilisation is introduced. Along with Corporation health officials, a detailed schedule for the drive will be made in the coming days,” G. Anduvan, Assistant Director, Department of Animal Husbandry (Vellore), said.
Focus on High-Trafficked Areas and Public Places
Veterinary experts observed that community dogs are most concentrated in busy areas like bus stands, train stations, markets, schools, and municipal buildings. Factors such as urban coIn a move intended for the betterment of public safety and animal welfare, the Vellore Corporation joined hands with the Animal Husbandry Department and started off with a grand-scale rabies vaccination and sterilization program for community dogs under the ABR (Dogs) Rules, 2001. The program was launched on Thursday with a ceremony presided over by Vellore Collector V.R. Subbulaxmi.
Training and Infrastructure Boost Underway
To ensure safe and effective implementation, the corporation's health workers will be trained in handling and vaccinating stray dogs. Meanwhile, the town's Animal Birth Control (ABC) Center, originally built in 2009, is undergoing renovation. The upgraded facility will feature modern surgical theaters and expanded infrastructure and is expected to reopen in June.
Until then, temporary vaccination setups at local clinics and ward offices will remain active. Once the ABC Center is fully functional, large-scale sterilization procedures will begin in earnest.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal Arshad/MSM)