Madurai’s Stray Dog Crisis: Vaccination Drive, Helpline & Political Heat Intensify

Madurai stray dogs rescue

Madurai is facing a pressing public health challenge as stray dog bite incidents continue to make headlines. Rising cases of dog attacks have pushed the Madurai Corporation and the Tamil Nadu government to adopt urgent preventive and preservation measures, while also sparking heated political debates.

Anti-Rabies Vaccination Drive in Madurai

On July 21, 2025, the Madurai Corporation rolled out a 70-day anti-rabies vaccination campaign across all 100 wards. Running daily from 6 am to 10 am, the campaign aims to vaccinate 5,000 dogs in the first phase. Corporation workers, veterinary teams, and NGO volunteers are jointly managing the effort.

Officials stated that the focus will be on areas with higher stray dog populations and frequent bite incidents. Residents have been urged to cooperate with field teams, which are using specialized vehicles to capture, vaccinate, and release the dogs back into their habitats.

A corporation official said, “The goal is to create a safer environment for both residents and animals. Rabies prevention is our top priority.”

Tamil Nadu’s Statewide Helpline & Preservation Plan

In a move complementing Madurai’s local drive, the Tamil Nadu government has announced a 24×7 dog-bite helpline. The helpline will handle emergencies, guide victims on immediate medical care, and coordinate with local bodies for dog rescues and monitoring.

Further, the government plans to establish 100 new Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres across 37 districts. These centres will intensify sterilisation and vaccination efforts to control the stray population humanely. To ensure the compliance and penalties for pet abandonment have also been introduced ₹10,000 for the first offense, ₹15,000 for the second offense and ₹25,000 for repeated violations.

Animal welfare activists welcomed the initiative, emphasizing that sterilisation combined with anti-rabies vaccination remains the most effective long-term strategy.