Phase two of stray dog vaccination in Chennai cityto start in Aug

Chennai: Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is set to roll out an intensive citywide vaccination drive for stray dogs this Aug, aiming to cover over two lakh animals across the city. The move follows the first phase last year, which saw over 1.47 lakh stray dogs vaccinated and dewormed, out of a total of 1.80 lakh stray dog population in the city.The civic body has earmarked 3.50crore for the second phase of the programme, which will involve administering anti-rabies vaccines and deworming treatment to stray dogs across the city. Special camps will be organised to ensure large-scale coverage, with veterinary teams mobilised to reach even the most densely populated localities. The first phase of the campaign was conducted between Aug 9 and Dec 31, 2025. "This year, we are aiming to increase coverage by 10-20 percent. The sustained vaccination is critical to breaking the transmission cycle of rabies from animals to humans," said GCC veterinary officer J Kamal Hussain.Public health experts have long emphasised that mass vaccination of stray dogs is the most effective and humane way to control rabies. "The World Health Organization has also advocated achieving at least 70 percent vaccination coverage among dog populations to significantly reduce risk of transmission," added Kamal.