Chennai, June 12, 2024: In response to an increase in human-dog conflict cases in the city, the Greater Chennai Corporation has initiated a comprehensive street dog survey. The last dog census, conducted in 2018, recorded 57,336 stray dogs, a significant reduction from the 82,438 dogs counted in the 2014 census. However, due to a pause in animal birth control surgeries during the COVID-19 pandemic, officials now estimate the number of stray dogs to have risen to at least 90,000.
The current survey is being carried out by Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) India, in collaboration with the city corporation and the Tamil Nadu Animal Welfare Board. Trained volunteers on two-wheelers are collecting data on dogs sighted along transect routes starting at 6:30 am. Each route, covering three to five wards, will be surveyed by over 50 teams. Data from three replicates of each route will be averaged to ensure accuracy.
Dr. Karlette Anne Fernandes, Director of Companion Animal Management at WVS, told TNIE that the survey focuses on community dogs and excludes pets. Alongside counting the dogs, the team will gather demographic information such as gender and age, and note the presence of lactating dogs as an indicator of population growth and their sterilization status.
“We will also assess the general well-being of the animals, noting any severe skin issues, tumors, lameness, or other visible health problems to gain an overview of the community dogs’ health,” said Fernandes. The collected data, including geo-tags, will be entered into a mobile application. The survey is expected to be completed in two months, providing the city corporation with detailed information on the number of dogs per kilometer and an overall population estimate with a 95% confidence interval.
Originally planned for every four years, the survey was missed in 2022. This year’s effort aims to address the gap and provide updated data to manage the stray dog population more effectively.
