Chennai, Dec 13 (NationPress) The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has seen nearly 100,000 pet dogs registered since the launch of its mandatory pet licensing initiative, which includes administering anti-rabies vaccines and microchipping, starting from October 8 this year.

As per official statistics, a total of 98,523 pet dogs have been registered to date, with 54,576 of them having received their licenses and microchips.

This initiative by the GCC aims to enhance the tracking of pet animals, curb the spread of rabies, and promote the welfare of animals across the city.

To manage the influx of last-minute applications and expedite the registration process, the GCC has initiated special pet licensing camps throughout the city. These camps will operate for three days until Sunday at eight designated locations: Manali, Madhavaram, Tondiarpet, Ambattur, Anna Nagar, Valasaravakkam, Adyar, and Perungudi.

Services will be available from 9 AM to 5 PM.

During these camps, pet owners can complete their registration, receive anti-rabies vaccinations, have microchips implanted, and obtain licenses without any charge. The GCC has also extended the deadline for mandatory licensing to December 14 following appeals from pet owners, urging residents to finish this process promptly to avoid penalties.

GCC Chief Veterinary Officer J. Kamal Hussain noted that a minor fraction of applications—approximately 3–4%—are from residents outside GCC jurisdiction, including neighboring corporations and village panchayats.

"We are rejecting such submissions, alongside forms lacking complete vaccination details. There will be no penalties for owners from non-GCC areas if they enter city limits without a license. Our officers will solely verify Aadhaar details, and if the address is outside GCC limits, no fines will be enforced," he explained.

Microchipping services are currently offered at five Animal Birth Control (ABC) centers located at Pulianthope, Royapettah (Lloyd’s Colony), Meenambakkam, Sholinganallur, and T. Nagar.

However, some residents have expressed concerns over long wait times and insufficient staffing at these centers.

“Each ABC center is expected to microchip at least 400 dogs a day, but currently, only around 150 are being managed. I waited nearly three hours at the Pulianthope center due to a shortage of staff,” reported a pet owner.

In light of this, GCC officials have suggested that residents take advantage of the special camps, especially when ABC centers are crowded, to ensure timely processing of licensing and microchipping.