In a move to promote responsible pet ownership and enhance public safety, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has issued 73,754 pet licences, incorporating compulsory microchips in registered dogs for traceability and welfare adherence. The Corporation’s deadline for dog owners to microchip their pets was December 7 last year, with defaulters facing a Rs 5,000 penalty each. Non-compliant owners have collectively paid fines amounting to Rs 7.11 lakh as part of the enforcement initiative.
GCC Veterinary Officer Kamal Hussain stated that the licensing and microchipping campaign commenced in October and ran until mid-December, receiving a positive response from pet owners. Over 70,000 licences were distributed initially, with microchips implanted in all registered dogs. The enforcement drive is aimed at fostering responsible pet ownership and ensuring public safety.
Following a series of concerning pet attack incidents in the city over the past two years, the Corporation has implemented stricter measures. Notable incidents include Rottweilers attacking a mother and her daughter in a public park in May 2024, as well as other incidents involving Rottweilers, Boxers, and a Pit Bull causing injuries and fatalities. These events prompted regulations requiring dogs to be leashed, muzzled in public areas, and regularly vaccinated.
The microchip, a small electronic device placed under a dog’s skin, allows authorities to identify ownership information and monitor vaccination records. Veterinary facilities experienced a surge in registrations before the deadline, although the rate has significantly decreased since then. Shravan Krishnan from the Besant Memorial Animal Dispensary mentioned a drop to fewer than 10 cases weekly for microchipping, with 1,812 microchips inserted by the dispensary thus far.
GCC continues to provide free licensing and microchipping services at seven designated centers in the city, operating from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Saturday.
