Wed Mar 19 02:42:30 UTC 2025: ## Chennai’s Stray Dog Population Explodes, Sparking Concerns

**Chennai, March 19, 2025** – Congress MP Karti P. Chidambaram has sharply criticized the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) for its failure to control the city’s burgeoning stray dog population, which he claims has surged to over 180,000. Chidambaram’s concerns, voiced in a letter to Mayor R. Priya and shared on X, highlight a drastic increase from an estimated 58,000 in 2018. He cited a GCC survey from September 2024 as the source for the higher figure.

The MP expressed alarm that only 27% of the stray dogs have been sterilized, leaving a significant majority unsterilized and posing serious public health and safety risks. He pointed to a lack of effective implementation of the state government’s ₹20 crore annual allocation for animal welfare programs, despite consistent funding since 2022-23. Chidambaram also noted significant discrepancies in sterilization rates across the city’s 200 wards, ranging from a low of 2% to a high of 73%. Areas with lower sterilization rates, he added, reported a higher number of dog-related complaints.

In response, GCC Commissioner J. Kumaragurubaran stated that five animal birth control (ABC) centers are currently operational, with plans to add ten more within three to four months. He also mentioned efforts to increase the capacity of existing centers. However, Chidambaram’s criticism underscores concerns over the slow pace of addressing the problem and calls for immediate, decisive action, including prioritizing sterilization in high-density areas and improving accountability. The MP attributed the situation to government negligence, lack of support from animal welfare organizations, and insufficient public awareness.

Read More