The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has announced plans to implement a state-wide digital platform designed to manage the records of both pet and stray dogs across the region. The platform, which will include both software and mobile applications, aims to streamline the identification and management of community and pet dog populations, as well as facilitate animal welfare efforts.
According to official sources, the portal will provide a comprehensive system to track various aspects of animal welfare, including dog bite incidents, the abandonment of pet dogs contributing to stray dog numbers, and compliance with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Act, which mandates that community dogs captured by the GCC remain in their designated areas.
The platform will enable citizens to report cases of animal cruelty, access international travel certificates for pets, and use a pet licensing service complete with payment options and renewal reminders. It will also offer a mechanism for the adoption of orphaned animals.
In addition to managing records of pet and community dogs, the portal will feature a master dashboard for monitoring animal welfare across municipal corporations, municipalities, and districts at the state level. The system will track various data points, including the categories of dogs (pet, community, or abandoned), vaccination and sterilization statuses, disease outbreaks, and complaints related to dog bites and cruelty. The platform will also include GPS-enabled mobile applications for dog catchers, enabling them to capture real-time data such as photos of the dogs.
The software platform will be hosted on a cloud-based infrastructure approved by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, ensuring seamless integration with existing GCC systems, such as the pet licensing database. The integration will also facilitate easier tracking of stray dogs and facilitate the vaccination and sterilization of these animals.
A significant feature of the portal is its plan to implement microchip implants in pet dogs to help manage complaints related to abandoned pets. These microchips, based on RFID technology, will contain detailed information about each dog, including the owner’s contact information, breed, age, vaccination status, and a unique ID number recognized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The microchips will not serve as GPS trackers but will be used as identification tools.
As part of the tender agreement, the contractor will be required to conduct annual training sessions for municipal officials, veterinarians, and dog catchers. The training will focus on microchipping and licensing compliance, with the goal of ensuring that the program reaches 100% compliance.
The initiative is also aimed at improving the current licensing process for pet dogs. Currently, only about 9,500 pet dog licenses have been issued in Chennai, despite an estimated pet dog population of over 100,000 in the city. The new platform will address this gap, providing pet owners with an efficient online system to obtain licenses and keep their pets properly registered.
The GCC is continuing to refine the implementation details, though the city aims to launch the platform in the near future, marking a significant step in enhancing animal welfare and management in Chennai.