CHENNAI: After the Supreme Court's ruling urging states to take on more serious steps in tackling the stray dog issue, the state unit of the BJP urged Chief Minister MK Stalin to take urgent measures to address the stray dog issue in the State and ensure strict implementation of the apex court's recent directives.
In a letter to the Chief Minister, BJP state spokesperson ANS Prasad said the increasing number of dog bite cases and rabies deaths highlight gaps in governance and public health. He noted that in 2024, dog bite cases in Tamil Nadu touched 6.42 lakh, with 34 rabies deaths and in early 2025, 1.24 lakh bite cases were recorded.
Prasad referred to the Supreme Court order of August 11, issued by a bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria, which laid down a framework for managing stray dogs. The directives include sterilisation and vaccination of captured dogs, sheltering of rabid or aggressive dogs, prohibition of feeding in public places with designated zones for the same, promotion of adoption with full responsibility, and protection for municipal workers handling strays.
He also criticised the State for inadequate implementation of the Animal Birth Control and anti-rabies programmes, initiated in 2010-11, and pointed to shortages of vaccines and trained staff in government hospitals, which force victims to seek private care.
Calling the situation a public health concern, Prasad urged the CM to convene a high-level task force with senior officials, establish district-level committees, strengthen hospital infrastructure with adequate vaccines and staff, conduct regular stray dog censuses, and strictly enforce sterilisation and vaccination drives.
Copies of the letter were also sent to the State Home Secretary, Health Secretary, and Municipal Administration and Water Supply Secretary.