Madurai corporation has administered anti-rabies vaccine to 10,307 stray dogs since the drive started on July 18. The drive aims to vaccinate around 38,300 dogs within the corporation limits.
Madurai: Madurai corporation has administered anti-rabies vaccine to 10,307 stray dogs since the drive started on July 18. The drive aims to vaccinate around 38,300 dogs within the corporation limits.Five veterinary doctors, along with 33 dog catchers, have been deployed in five dog-catching vehicles to vaccinate stray dogs and prevent the spread of rabies and curb dog attacks on residents. The district animal husbandry department and NGOs work alongside the corporation in the drive.The vaccinated dogs include around 4,000 stray dogs identified at 658 high-priority premises such as govt offices, Govt Rajaji Hospital, educational institutions and other public facilities.Assistant city health officer Abhishek said the target to vaccinate and sterilise all the stray dogs in the city is progressing on schedule, with an average of around 300 dogs being vaccinated daily. “Animal shelters are completely operational, allowing the animals to be sterilised and released in a streamlined manner,” he said.At the corporation council meeting held last week, councillors called out the corporation for catching and immediately releasing the dogs in the same area. A senior corporation official, however, said dogs were released only after the vaccine was administered. “Dogs that exhibit aggressive behaviour are taken to shelters for further monitoring, while other dogs are released after giving vaccine.”