Chennai’s stray dog menace persists well beyond the Supreme Court’s eight-week cutoff. Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) relocation drive is mired in shelter scarcity, frustrating efforts to secure public spaces.
The directive came in November 2023, urging authorities to prioritize human safety over stray proliferation. GCC’s December package included Rs 50 daily per dog feeding costs and Rs 750 for bigger setups.
Funding falls short without space. NGOs balk at capacity issues and poor facilities. Officials note full occupancy across authorized shelters. TNAWB’s eight approved partners? All tapped out.
Two organizations are in talks; outer-city hopefuls hit identical snags. Sparse results: 40 dogs out of Madras High Court—21 sheltered at Nemmeli NGO, rest rehomed. City survey for stray numbers? On hold.
Remedy in works: GCC allocates plots in Madhavaram and Velachery for 250-capacity specialist shelters for rabid, sick, or feral dogs. NGO bids target full operations by late March. The lag exposes urban planning flaws in handling strays humanely yet effectively. With public outrage building, GCC must accelerate to prevent tragedy.