Chennai: Abandonment of pedigree dogs such as pugs, great danes and others has been on the rise across the city. In just 10 days, more than 50 pedigree dogs have been dumped on roadsides and outside animal shelters, adding further pressure on facilities operating at full capacity. Animal welfare activists say GCC’s microchipping initiative failed to deliver the desired results, as there is no penalty for abandoning pets.Shravan Krishnan of Besant Memorial Animal Dispensary said pedigree dogs require entirely different care than Indie breeds. Such dogs add costs that shelters can scarcely absorb. Compounding the problem is the state govt’s failure to start a dedicated facility for rehabilitating these abandoned animals, he said.Kirthana, an animal lover who works with several shelters to rehabilitate abandoned dogs, says the abandonment cuts across breeds. One rescued doberman proved especially difficult, fiercely aggressive and unwilling to accept a new master; the dog could not be rehabilitated despite repeated attempts, and now lives in isolation.Many believed GCC’s decision to make microchipping mandatory for all pets would bring accountability. But the trend has only worsened since, with owners growing bolder in the belief that the civic body will not enforce penalties, even when a chipped, abandoned dog is identified.Animal welfare activists say the problem isn’t the policy itself but the complete absence of enforcement, leaving shelters to shoulder a crisis for which no one is held responsible. Amid the grim picture, there are pockets of progress. E Martina, founder of Smiles of Strays, is working with Avadi municipal corporation on a systematic vaccination and birth-control programme for strays.Yet even there, abandonment continues unabated. Martina believes the only lasting solution lies in banning the breeding of pedigree dogs altogether.Corporation veterinary officer Kamal Hussain said there are no penalty clauses for abandonment of pedigree pets. In the Aug council meeting, this clause will be added, and a resolution to that effect will be passed.Chokkalingam, chief executive officer of State Animal Welfare Board, said they are formulating a new policy for handling both stray and pet dogs, which will include the penalty for abandoning pets.
