Chennai, Feb 24 (NationPress) In a significant initiative aimed at fostering responsible pet ownership and enhancing public safety, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has successfully issued 73,754 pet licenses to date, with all registered dogs now having mandatory microchips implanted to ensure traceability and compliance with welfare standards.

The civic authority had set a deadline of December 7 of the previous year for dog owners to microchip their pets. Following this deadline, those who failed to comply faced penalties of Rs 5,000 each. As part of this enforcement campaign, the Corporation has amassed Rs 7.11 lakh in fines imposed on non-compliant pet owners.

GCC Veterinary Officer Kamal Hussain noted that the licensing and microchipping initiative commenced in October and continued through mid-December, receiving an overwhelming response from pet owners.

“Over 70,000 licenses were granted during the initial phase, with microchips being implanted in all registered dogs. This enforcement is crucial for promoting responsible pet ownership and ensuring public safety,” he stated.

The heightened measures were triggered by a series of disturbing pet attack incidents reported across the city over the last two years.

In May 2024, two Rottweilers reportedly attacked a five-year-old girl and her mother in a public park. The following month, separate incidents involving Rottweilers and Boxers resulted in injuries to multiple individuals, including a 12-year-old boy who suffered serious wounds.

In May 2025, an IAS officer was bitten during a morning stroll in Royapettah. A month later, a tragic incident involving a Pit Bull shocked the community when a man was killed, and the dog also attacked its owner while she tried to intervene.

These occurrences prompted the Corporation to tighten regulations regarding pet ownership, making it obligatory for dogs to be leashed, muzzled in public spaces, and regularly vaccinated.

The microchip, a small electronic device implanted beneath the dog’s skin, allows authorities to access ownership details and monitor vaccination records.

Veterinary clinics experienced a surge in registrations approaching the deadline. Shravan Krishnan from the Besant Memorial Animal Dispensary reported that pet owners hurried to comply, although registrations have significantly decreased since then. “Currently, we receive fewer than 10 requests weekly for microchipping,” he remarked. The dispensary has implanted 1,812 microchips thus far.

The GCC continues to provide free licensing and microchipping services at seven designated centers throughout the city, operating from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Saturday.