The Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation has launched a major initiative to address the city's stray dog population and public safety concerns. The civic body has decided to establish one of the largest integrated shelter and hospital facilities for stray dogs in the state at Vandithadam in the capital.
Fast-Tracked Project with Supreme Court Directives
The decision to accelerate the Vandithadam project comes against a backdrop of increasing public anxiety over stray dog attacks. The move also aligns with recent directives from the Supreme Court, which has urged local bodies across India to implement effective and humane measures for managing street dogs. The newly elected governing council of the corporation has prioritized this project, setting an ambitious target to complete all formalities within the current financial year.
Officials confirmed that an e-tender for the construction of a multi-speciality veterinary hospital-cum-shelter is likely to be floated by the end of January 2024. This will follow the finalization of the Detailed Project Report (DPR), which is currently being prepared by the corporation's health wing.
A Modern Facility for Humane Management
The proposed Vandithadam facility is designed to be a comprehensive center for stray dog care and management. It will function as a combined hospital and long-term shelter, offering advanced veterinary treatment alongside boarding facilities. The infrastructure is planned to include several modern components:
- Specially designed kennels
- Dedicated quarantine zones
- Post-operative care units
- Scientific waste management systems
This setup is intended to comply with established animal welfare norms and significantly boost the city's capacity to handle stray dogs in an organized, scientific manner.
Expanding Shelter Network Across the City
Beyond the flagship Vandithadam project, the corporation has broader plans to expand shelter infrastructure. This year, it aims to establish five more permanent shelter homes at various locations across Thiruvananthapuram. Each of these new shelters will have a capacity for up to 20 dogs, a limit set to ensure better care and easier management.
Corporation Secretary Jahamgeer S explained the necessity for this expansion. He noted that currently, stray dogs that are sterilized and vaccinated under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme are not being released back onto the streets. Instead, they are housed at the existing limited facilities at Pettah veterinary hospital and Vandithadam, leading to severe space constraints. The new shelters are expected to alleviate this pressure.
Land identification for these five shelters is currently underway, and locations will be finalized soon. The civic body emphasizes its commitment to ensuring that dogs are not left unattended after undergoing sterilization and vaccination procedures.
Part of a Comprehensive Strategy
The shelter initiative is a core component of a larger, comprehensive stray dog management strategy for the capital city. The corporation's agenda includes clearing stray dogs from sensitive and crowded public spaces such as:
- Bus stands and railway stations
- Markets
- Other high-footfall areas
Officials state this is crucial for preventing accidents and dog-bite incidents while simultaneously ensuring the humane treatment of animals. The overall strategy also encompasses intensified ABC (sterilization and vaccination) drives, improvements to veterinary infrastructure, and the creation of designated feeding zones to manage the population responsibly.
Once operational, the Vandithadam facility and the network of supporting shelters are expected to transform how Thiruvananthapuram manages its street dog population, balancing public safety with animal welfare.
