India

Kochi Corporation Considers Mobile ABC Units to Balance Stray Dog Sterilisation

By M.P. Praveen

The Kochi Corporation is looking into deploying mobile Animal Birth Control (ABC) units staffed with veterinary surgeons and animal handlers to improve stray dog management and ensure balanced coverage across the city. West Kochi councillors have long complained that stray dog sterilisation at the ABC Centre in Brahmapuram is discriminatory, even though the problem is more severe in West Kochi. Mayor V.K. Minimol said the council has asked dog catchers to maintain a 75:75 balance between West Kochi and the rest of the city while increasing monthly surgeries at the centre from 100 to 150. She added that a proposal for mobile units will be presented to the council. V.A. Sreejith, the LDF parliamentary party leader, criticised the infrequent visits of animal handlers to West Kochi and said ABC activities were in limbo, with progress stalled since the shelter’s foundation stone was laid in March. Complaints have also risen over the four animal handlers at the ABC Centre, whose frequent leave has reduced the number of dogs captured for sterilisation. Only 99 stray dogs were caught last month, below the centre’s monthly capacity. The mayor has issued strict instructions to capture at least 150 stray dogs each month. Sources at the centre said the 99 dogs included those captured after bite complaints and those taken for observation due to aggressive behaviour, not all of whom were intended for surgery. The mayor has already approved the recruitment of two additional veterinary surgeons, following a Health Standing Committee decision to raise the surgery rate; this approval will be ratified by the council this week. The centre currently has two surgeons, and a shift system is planned once the new surgeons join. Attempts to recruit more animal handlers have repeatedly failed. Published – October 06, 2026 03:19 pm IST