Episode 12 : Chennai Update- GCC’s Ambitious Microchipping Drive for Dogs

If you care about street animals in Chennai (like I do), there’s a big new development - the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is ramping up its microchipping program for both pet and stray dogs. Here's where things stand, why it matters, and what’s coming next.

What’s Happening Right Now

1. Mandatory Microchipping for Pet Dogs

   • GCC recently passed a resolution making microchips mandatory for pet dogs when applying for their city licence.

   • The microchip will record details like the dog’s breed, age, color, vaccination status, and a unique ID number recognised by ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research).

   • The GCC has already issued work orders for RFID microchips to be implanted.

   • They haven’t fixed the fine for skipping microchipping yet, but they will have one.

     
     

2. Digital Platform Launched

   • On October 4, 2025, GCC launched a digital portal + mobile app to manage all dog data - both community (stray) and pet dogs.

   • Through this platform, GCC tracks microchip IDs, vaccination records, GPS capture and release location, and more.

   • For community dogs, when they’re caught, the app records where they were caught (GPS), sterilised, vaccinated, microchipped, and then released back very close to their original location.

3. Stray Dog Tracking

   • GCC is microchipping stray dogs too - not just pets.

   • Some strays are being fitted with QR-coded collars which have age, colour, vaccination status, sterilisation history, and location data.

   • This helps prevent “dog relocation” (a big problem): after sterlisation, GCC wants to release dogs back where they were caught.

4. Mass Vaccination + Deworming

   • GCC has committed to vaccinate and deworm 1.8 lakh stray dogs.

   • Their plan is closely linked to microchipping, so every sterilised/vaccinated stray’s record is digital.

5. Enforcement and Licensing

   • Starting 24 November 2025, GCC will do door-to-door inspections.

   • If a pet dog is found unlicensed, the fine could go up to ₹5,000.

   • Some GCC-run pet clinics are offering free microchipping.

   • But there’s been a scramble: pet owners report few centers, long queues, and glitches with updating microchip or vaccination details on the online portal.

     
     

Why This Is a Big Deal

• Accountability & Traceability: With microchips + QR collars + a digital database, GCC now has a way to track every dog’s lifecycle. This is huge for both stray dog welfare and public health.

• Combating Abandonment: Making microchipping mandatory ties responsible ownership to licensing. It discourages people from abandoning pets because the dog’s identity is traceable.

• Stray Management: Better data = smarter ABC (Animal Birth Control) work. Knowing where dogs were caught, sterilised, and released helps avoid territorial problems.

• Rabies Prevention: Integrated vaccination + microchip data means more effective planning for rabies control.

• Public Trust & Transparency: With the app and portal, citizens can view dog data, report cruelty, and see bite-statistics.

My Take (As Someone Who Cares)

I really think this is one of the most hopeful steps Chennai has taken for dog welfare. The combination of sterilisation + vaccination + microchipping + digital tracking is exactly the kind of holistic model needed to manage a large urban stray dog population - without resorting to cruel or reactive measures.

But the success of something like this depends on execution: if microchipping centers remain limited or the portal stays clunky, the promise will be hard to fulfill. I’ll be watching closely, and I hope more animal lovers and volunteers do too, because this can be a model for other cities. PSA: MICROCHIP COSTS GCC Centers - FREE Besant Memorial Animal Dispensary Indian breeds - 500rs per microchip Pedigree breeds - 750rs per microchip Private Clinics 1000-3000rs per microchip