Chennai: Tambaram Corporation has vaccinated 42,149 of its estimated 46,286 stray dogs — nearly 90% — through about 10 mass vaccination drives over the past six months under its anti-rabies campaign titled COHAB (Cohabitation). The campaign was launched in Dec last year as part of an initiative to break rabies transmission among dogs and reduce the risk of infection in humans.The corporation limits were divided into five zones, and 10 teams vaccinated around 230 stray dogs a day, for about six months. Each team comprised a five-member dog-catching unit with a vehicle, two veterinarians to carry out the vaccinations, and a three-member support team for record-keeping and logistics. Officials said the corporation has also intensified its animal birth control (ABC) programme with 3,668 dogs sterilised this year, adding to the 5,404 sterilised last year.But residents say that aggressive stray dogs continue to be a concern in several neighbourhoods. M Gandhi, president of Pallavaram Residents Welfare Association, said that dogs continue to attack people, particularly at night, but they have been vaccinated. “There are at least five dog-bite cases reported every day. They may not be life-threatening, but they still leave people injured and sacred,” he added.Tambaram Corporation commissioner S Balachander said the civic body currently operates three dog shelter. “One more shelter is under construction for about ₹50 lakh, and tenders have been floated to build another at East Tambaram. We have also taken action to remove dogs from school zones and other public gathering places,” he said. He added that the corporation plans to vaccinate around 5,000 pet dogs based on preliminary survey estimates.
