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Chennai, Nov 15 (IANS) With the November 23 deadline for microchipping of pet dogs fast approaching, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC)’s ambitious registration drive has been hit by severe congestion, technical glitches and frustration among thousands of pet owners struggling to complete the mandatory process.
The civic body has purchased two lakh microchip devices and 80 RFID readers at a total cost of ₹5.19 crore. Each chip costs around ₹300, but GCC is providing microchipping service free of cost at its designated centres.
Kamal Hussain, veterinary officer of the corporation, said the initiative aims to create a comprehensive database of pet dogs for effective urban animal management.
Currently, microchipping is being conducted throughout the week in six centers – Thiru-Vee-Ka Nagar, Pulianthope, Nungambakkam, Royapettah, T Nagar and Nanganallur.
Officials said the process is conducted only on Sundays in Sholinganallur.
However, the limited number of centers has led to long queues and overcrowding.
Residents say they are forced to wait for hours, often returning home without being able to care for their pets.
“It is almost impossible to meet the deadline at this speed,” said a frustrated pet owner, urging officials to extend the deadline or immediately open more microchipping camps across the city.
To reduce the pressure on GCC centres, the Corporation has authorized private veterinary hospitals to carry out microchipping. But the move has raised concerns over inconsistent pricing.
While many clinics charge between ₹500 and ₹750 depending on the breed, some are reportedly demanding up to ₹3,000 for the same service, leading to complaints from pet owners already burdened with short deadlines.
Adding to their concerns, many residents say the GCC portal is not updating their microchip details or rabies vaccination records even after completing the procedure at private clinics.
Many claim that their license status is stuck at ‘Pending’ despite uploading all the required information.
The absence of clear instructions or FAQs on the GCC website has further deepened the confusion among users.
Meanwhile, overcrowding at the centers has sometimes led to fights breaking out between dogs standing in long queues, leading some owners to suggest using a muzzle to avoid fights while waiting.
Deputy Mayor Mahesh Kumar said the corporation was ready to consider extending the deadline if the public formally expressed the need, which would provide a ray of hope to thousands of people waiting for the process to be completed.
–IANS
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