Chennai: More than 13,000 pet dog licences in the city remain unrenewed despite repeated reminders and extended deadlines issued by Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). Civic officials said the response has remained lukewarm, though renewal and microchipping are mandatory. With the deadline having lapsed, the corporation is set to resume inspections across neighbourhoods from next week and impose fines on violators.The corporation has made microchipping compulsory as part of its efforts to curb pet abandonment and ensure compliance with annual anti-rabies vaccination requirements. Despite the civic body mandating microchipping and licensing for pet dogs in the city, only one lakh dogs have been microchipped so far, of which only 65,000 licences are active. The local body has imposed a penalty of ₹5,000 on violators and has collected ₹7 lakh in fines till March.“Around 13,200 pet licences are yet to be renewed. Each licence is valid for one year from the date of vaccination, and renewal requires proof of a fresh anti-rabies shot. Since many pet owners have not applied for or renewed their licences, the deadline was extended till June 15,” said GCC veterinary officer J Kamal Hussain.Despite the extension, there has been no significant improvement in either new applications or licence renewals. The corporation has decided to resume inspections and impose penalties on violators from next week. Officials said the drive aims to improve pet registration, ensure traceability, and strengthen public health and animal welfare measures.As many as 45 vehicles with four-member teams, including a veterinarian, will be deployed across the city. Each team will be equipped with a microchip scanner. Inspections will be carried out on dogs taken out for walks on roads and in public places such as beaches and parks, as well as through door-to-door visits.
