Civic bodies in Vellore, Ranipet, and Tiruvannamalai districts in Tamil Nadu have increased efforts to vaccinate and sterilize community dogs following an incident where a three-year-old boy was attacked in Tirupattur district. The initiative aims to enhance public safety, especially for children and seniors, while managing the stray dog population humanely. This action gained momentum after the boy was reportedly attacked by a group of community dogs while playing outside his home in Vaniyambadi town.
The campaign, which includes ongoing animal birth control and vaccination programs, gained traction after CCTV footage of the incident circulated on social media, raising public concern. Local administrations have stepped up efforts to address these issues. Residents have expressed support for the intensified drive, believing that continuous vaccination and sterilization efforts will help reduce the stray dog population over time, creating safer environments for residents, especially children and the elderly.
The program is a collaborative effort involving the Department of Animal Husbandry, the Tamil Nadu Animal Welfare Board, and non-governmental organizations. Major urban local bodies like the Vellore and Tiruvannamalai Corporations have been organizing weekly vaccination and sterilization camps every Saturday for the past month. Authorities have also integrated this initiative with the ongoing Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination program for cattle, utilizing veterinarians to maximize coverage and manpower efficiency.
In Vellore district, an estimated 45,829 community dogs are present, with the Vellore Corporation alone responsible for 27,102 dogs. Similarly, Pernambut and Gudiyatham have 2,188 and 1,973 dogs, respectively. As of July 25, a total of 15,641 dogs have been vaccinated district-wide, including 7,496 within Vellore Corporation limits. In Tiruvannamalai, where a significant number of devotees visit the Arunachaleswar Temple daily, authorities are prioritizing the vaccination of community dogs near schools, hospitals, and other public areas. Over 4,000 of the estimated 5,175 community dogs in the town have already been vaccinated.
The Tiruvannamalai Corporation is also establishing its first dedicated Animal Birth Control (ABC) center, costing Rs 64 lakh, to enhance sterilization efforts and improve the long-term management of the stray dog population. In Ranipet district, approximately 12,000 community dogs have been identified in major towns like Ranipet, Sholinghur, Walajah, Arcot, Arakkonam, and Melvisharam, with Ranipet town alone having 5,787 dogs. Officials have reported that more than 60% of the district’s identified community dogs have already been vaccinated as the campaign progresses across urban local bodies.
