Thiruvananthapuram corporation’s stray dog shelter plan faces legal hurdles

Thiruvananthapuram: Corporation's ambitious plan to establish decentralised shelters for stray dogs across the city limits is facing legal hurdles. An association of animal lovers has moved the court against corporation's decision to invite private agencies to set up and operate stray dog shelters.The civic body recently called for expressions of interest (EoI) from private agencies to submit proposals for establishing and managing decentralised stray dog shelters in various parts of the city. Four societies participated in the EoI process, and presentations by these societies are scheduled to be held next week.
However, an activist of Samasrishti, the organisation that approached the court, said the plan violated established animal welfare norms. "Healthy stray dogs should not be confined in shelters. Captivity can severely affect their physical and psychological health. Shelters must be reserved only for injured, sick, or aggressive animals as part of rescue and rehabilitation efforts," the activist said. The petition initially came up before high court but was later transferred to Supreme Court. The hearing is currently in progress, and a verdict is expected next week. Despite the pending verdict, the corporation is proceeding with preliminary steps, including evaluating the proposals received through EoI. Officials maintained that the shelter plan was part of a broader strategy to address the growing stray dog population and related public safety concerns in the city. Dr Sreerag, a veterinary surgeon with Thiruvananthapuram corporation, defended the initiative. "The proposed decentralised shelters are aimed at improving scientific management of stray dogs. Our focus is on injured, ill and vulnerable animals that require medical attention and temporary care. We are committed to adhering to animal welfare guidelines and court directives," he said. He added that the corporation is simultaneously strengthening its veterinary infrastructure. The revamp of the veterinary hospitals at Pettah and Vandithadam is expected to be completed within two months. "Upgraded facilities will significantly improve treatment capacity, surgical interventions and sterilisation drives," Dr Sreerag noted. In addition, construction of a new multi-speciality veterinary hospital at Vandithadam is expected to commence after two months. The proposed hospital will be developed on the lines of a ‘Chennai model' facility, equipped with advanced diagnostic, surgical and in-patient care units. The corporation believes this will serve as a comprehensive centre for animal healthcare and disease control in the city. Animal welfare activists, however, insist that sterilisation, vaccination and community-based management remain the most effective and humane solutions to stray dog issues. They argue that large-scale confinement could undermine decades of progress in animal birth control programmes.