Stray dog menace continues to haunt several areas in Tiruchi

Stray dogs found roaming near a residential area at Karumandapam in Tiruchi. | Photo Credit: R. VENGADESH Despite the Tiruchi Corporation’s efforts to curb the stray dog menace, several parts of the city continue to face the problem, with residents reporting dog attacks, particularly at night.Packs of dogs are seen roaming the streets, posing a threat to pedestrians, two-wheeler riders, and other road users. Residents say the problem is more pronounced in localities where food carts, street food vendors, and meat shops operate, attracting stray dogs in large numbers.The menace has been reported in several areas, including Thennur, Thillainagar, Karumandapam, K.K. Nagar, Khajamalai, Woraiyur, Kattur, Srirangam, Ramachandra Nagar, and Bheema Nagar.Residents say they were scared to let their children play outdoors while senior citizens and two-wheeler riders are vulnerable to attacks.“We are in constant fear of being attacked by dogs, particularly at night. Children and senior citizens are finding it increasingly difficult to move around freely, even within their own neighbourhood,” said Nirmal Kumar, a resident of Thennur.Stray dogs are frequently spotted in public places such as bus stands, railway stations, government offices, hospitals. and police stations, raising concerns about public safety.Residents have expressed concern over the non-functioning grievance portal of the Tiruchi Corporation, saying they are unable to register complaints and seek timely intervention. They have urged the civic body to restore the portal and take steps to address the problem.According to a survey conducted in 2025, the number of stray dogs in Tiruchi city limits is estimated at 43,767.Under its Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme, the Corporation has so far sterilised around 36,500 stray dogs, vaccinated them against rabies, and released them back to their original locations. The civic body aims to complete the programme by December.As part of its efforts to strengthen rabies prevention, the Corporation also administered booster doses to around 5,000 stray dogs during 2025. Since the launch of the drive in June, around 20,000 doses have been administered. Published - October 23, 2026 06:37 pm IST