Stray dogs have remained a persistent civic concern in the city and the civic body have sterilised over 14,600 dogs so far in Erode in Tamil Nadu.

| Photo Credit: GOVARTHAN M.

The Erode Corporation has sterilised and vaccinated 14,654 stray dogs under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme since it was relaunched in 2024.Under Article 243W of the Constitution, urban local bodies are responsible for controlling the stray dog population through sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination. Though the Corporation launched the programme in 2010, it was discontinued within weeks, resulting in a sharp increase in the stray dog population across the city’s 60 wards.Stray dogs have remained a persistent civic concern in the city. Residents have repeatedly petitioned the Corporation, citing dog bite incidents, packs chasing two-wheeler riders during the night and early morning hours, and concerns over the safety of children and elderly people in residential neighbourhoods.A GPS-based survey conducted by the Corporation in 2023 estimated the city’s stray dog population at around 27,000. To implement the programme, the civic body engaged Animal Helping Hands, a non-governmental organisation, to operate the ABC centre at Solar. On an average, around 1,200 dogs are sterilised every month. The organisation is paid ₹1,650 per dog for capturing, sterilisation, administering anti-rabies vaccination, post-operative care and releasing the animal in the locality from where it was captured.A Corporation health official said the programme was being implemented in phases. During the first phase, from January to November 2024, a total of 4,998 dogs were sterilised at a cost of ₹82.46 lakh. In the second phase, from December 2024 to August 2025, another 5,000 dogs were sterilised at an expenditure of ₹82.50 lakh.The third phase, which commenced on September 1, 2025, aims to sterilise another 5,000 dogs at a cost of ₹82.50 lakh. As of Monday (July 6, 2026), 4,656 dogs had been covered under the ongoing phase, taking the cumulative total to 14,654.The official said the dogs were kept under observation for three days after sterilisation and vaccination before being released in the same localities from where they had been captured. Published - July 07, 2026 07:08 pm IST