Civic bodies expedite mass vaccination, sterilisation of community dogs in Vellore, Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai

Civic bodies, especially corporations and municipalities, in Vellore, Ranipet and Tiruvannamalai districts have stepped up mass vaccination and sterilization of community dogs to ensure the safety of residents, especially senior citizens and children.

The attack took place a few days ago after three-year-old N. Rithvik, who was playing in front of the house in Vaniyambadi town of Tirupattur district, was attacked by a group of dogs.

Footage of the incident captured by security cameras went viral on social media and sparked public outrage. “Vaccination and neutering of community dogs will help in steadily reducing the number in the area. Children with parents can spend time outside homes with fewer dogs around,” said K. Vanitha, a local resident.

Major local organizations like Vellore and Tiruvannamalai Corporations along with the Animal Husbandry Department, which carried out the work with the Tamil Nadu Animal Welfare Board and NGOs, had been carrying out mass vaccination and sterilization drives every Saturday since a month ago. “Since there is an upcoming deadline for foot and mouth disease (FMD) vaccination for cows (August 1), veterinarians are ready to carry out these two procedures (vaccination of community dogs) simultaneously,” said G. Anduvan, Joint Director (JD), Animal Husbandry Department (Vellore). Hindu.

Of the total 45,829 community dogs in the district, Vellore Corporation has the highest number of 27,102 dogs, followed by Pernambut town (2,188 dogs) and Gudiyatham town (1,973 dogs). Within the scope of vaccination, 15,641 dogs, including 7,496 dogs, were vaccinated in the Institution until July 25.

The neighboring temple town of Tiruvannamalai is also witnessing the menace of stray dogs as a large number of devotees visit the town to worship at the Arunachaleswar temple. Every day, an average of 1.5 lakh visitors come to the city to worship.

Tiruvannamalai Corporation has vaccinated more than 4,000 dogs till Saturday, July 25, out of a total of 5,175 dogs. The civic body has also built a full-fledged Animal Birth Control (ABC) center in the town for the first time for sterilization of community dogs at a cost of Rs 64 lakh. “Due to the movement of students and patients, community dogs near educational institutions and hospitals are being given priority for vaccination. The new ABC center will also open soon,” Tiruvannamalai Corporation Commissioner K. Balasubramanian said.

In Ranipet, around 12,000 dogs were detected in major towns like Sholinghur, Ranipet, Walajah, Arcot, Arakkonam and Melvisharam. Among the towns in the district, Ranipet has the highest number of dogs with 5,787. More than 60 percent of dogs in the county have been vaccinated.