Chennai to check pet dogs for license and microchip

Chennai: The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is set to launch a citywide door-to-door survey to identify pet dogs that are not licensed or microchipped, a move officials say is intended to strengthen pet regulation, improve animal welfare and boost public safety.

The drive follows the rollout of an upgraded online pet-registration portal in early October and a decision by the GCC to make microchipping mandatory for all pet dogs. Authorities plan to verify licences, vaccination records and microchipping details during household visits; pet owners found non-compliant will be given a grace period to regularise their animals before fines are imposed.

Officials told reporters the offline survey was prompted by a disappointing public response to the new portal. Despite the October launch only a small number of owners have completed registration and microchipping so far local reports put that figure at roughly 120 owners, prompting the corporation to set up field verification and awareness efforts. 

Microchipping is a quick, minimally invasive procedure in which a rice-grain-sized electronic chip is implanted under the dog’s skin, usually between the shoulder blades. Each chip carries a unique ID that links the animal to its owner in a central database, helping officials and veterinarians trace lost pets, confirm vaccination status and deter abandonment. GCC officials and veterinarians emphasize that microchipping is permanent identification, not a tracking device, and is commonly used to reunite pets with owners. 

The corporation’s action also responds to wider public-health and animal welfare concerns. GCC data and reporting suggest significant gaps in pet vaccinations and licence compliance, and civic authorities have linked improved registration and microchipping to better rabies control, more effective vaccination campaigns and quicker action on cases of abandonment. Animal welfare groups have welcomed the focus on registration but urged that enforcement be paired with clear public education, accessible microchipping services and support for owners who face financial constraints. 

A brief practical guide for Chennai pet owners: check the GCC pet-registration portal, ensure your dog’s anti-rabies vaccination is up to date, and get the ICAR-certified microchip implanted at authorised clinics or GCC centers. Keep the registration and vaccination receipts handy, the survey team will request to see them, and if you are unsure where to go, contact GCC’s civic help channels or local veterinary clinics for guidance. 

While enforcement measures such as fines are being discussed, several stakeholders stress that outreach and convenience will determine the programme’s success. Volunteers, welfare groups and veterans are likely to play a role in outreach, vaccination drives and sterilization programmes, and civic officials have said stray-dog programmes will continue under existing animal-birth-control and vaccination schemes. The corporation says the door-to-door survey is meant to bridge the gap between policy and practice by reaching owners who have not responded to online appeals. 

For many Chennai residents, pets are family members and the GCC’s measures aim to protect people and animals alike by creating clear records, reducing abandonment and ensuring that vaccinated, licensed pets are safely identified. Owners who cooperate early will avoid penalties and contribute to a safer, more accountable pet-ownership environment across the city.