New Delhi, July 11 (PTI) Microchipping of stray dogs has begun at the Animal Birth Control (ABC) centre in Delhi’s Ghazipur, expanding the exercise ahead of the proposed citywide stray dog survey, MCD officials said on Saturday.
The microchipping drive began at the Ghazipur ABC centre on Thursday. This is the second such facility where the exercise is being carried out. Earlier, the Bijwasan ABC centre in Najafgarh zone launched the drive on July 3, with 155 stray dogs microchipped so far.
The exercise is being carried out by NGO Friendicoes-SECA using corporate social responsibility (CSR) funding from power distribution company BSES.
Dogs brought to the Ghazipur centre for sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination are now also being implanted with ISO-certified microchips before being released back into the areas from where they were picked up, officials said.
“The microchipping process started at the Ghazipur centre on Thursday. Every dog undergoing sterilisation will also be microchipped so that it can be identified during the citywide survey and future monitoring,” a senior official said.
Officials said the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has also written to the Delhi government seeking an additional 700-square-yard land to expand the Ghazipur kennel, situated on government land.
“The additional kennel at the Ghazipur ABC centre will accommodate around 600 more dogs. Once operational, it will double the centre’s existing capacity,” the official said.
Each microchip, about the size of a grain of rice, carries a unique 15-digit identification number approved by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).
Officials said details such as the dog’s age, sex, colour, area, ward, sterilisation status and anti-rabies vaccination record will be stored on a dedicated digital database, ensuring tagged dogs do not have to be microchipped again during the citywide survey.
The MCD plans to launch its citywide stray dog survey in coming weeks to establish Delhi’s actual stray dog population and strengthen planning for sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination programmes.
It has earmarked Rs 20 crore for the microchipping and vaccination programme this year as part of its four-year roadmap to make the capital rabies-free. PTI MSJ ARB ARB
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