CHENNAI: The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has approved a set of standard guidelines along with financial support for the permanent maintenance of street dogs rescued from public and government institution premises, in accordance with directions issued by the Supreme Court.
The approval allows the Corporation’s veterinary department to hand over street dogs rescued from educational institutions, hospitals, parks, railway stations, bus stands, tourist places, places of worship and sports stadiums to NGOs, private dog shelters and individual volunteers for permanent care.
The GCC will provide a feeding cost of Rs 50/dog per day to private shelters and NGOs that maintain dogs it referred. In shelters housing 20 or more GCC-referred dogs, the Corporation will also pay wages for two caretakers at Rs 750/person per day.
The GCC will maintain records of dogs handed over and carry out inspections through its veterinary officers. Private NGOs, shelters and volunteers receiving dogs are required to maintain proper records, provide food, vaccination and medical treatment, and cooperate with inspections by Corporation officials.
The framework also permits volunteers to adopt rescued street dogs without claiming maintenance costs. They will be required to provide a written undertaking stating that the dogs would not be abandoned and would be maintained permanently.
Meanwhile, the construction of dog shelters in Manali and Perungudi zones are ongoing with additional locations being identified. Until adequate Corporation-run shelter capacity is available, rescued dogs will be placed with private shelters, NGOs and volunteers.