Tamil Nadu failing at animal birth control
The abject failure of the Animal Birth Control programme in the State is apparent on the streets. This report reveals that the ABC programme, besides being in a shambles, is inhumane, corrupt, and cruel, in many cases
A recent internal report revealed a concerning situation at an Animal Birth Control (ABC) centre in Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, India. In late 2025, the center released 50 emaciated dogs that had been starved for a month, with 20 of them dying. The ABC centre was operated by the Vet Society for Animal Welfare and Rural Development, based in Hyderabad.
Activists argue that the ABC process in local bodies has become an assembly-line operation, incentivizing projected numbers rather than actual outcomes. Local authorities outsource the sterilisation process to contractors, who are paid per dog caught, often leading to the capture of unfit dogs such as puppies, lactating females, and pregnant ones.
Veterinarians and activists claim that improper suturing techniques, inadequate pain management, and reuse of suture material contribute to a high rate of complications and death among sterilised dogs. Despite guidelines mandating humane capture, pre- and post-operative care, and strict sterilisation methods, many ABC centres are failing to adhere to these standards, resulting in poor animal welfare and a high mortality rate.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
