Tamil Nadu failing at animal birth control
An investigation by The Hindu reveals systemic failures and animal cruelty at Animal Birth Control (ABC) centers in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Reports indicate that outsourced contractors are starving animals and performing substandard sterilizations, leading to high mortality rates.
Why it matters
This exposes significant gaps in government oversight and the ethical treatment of community animals in public health programs.
An internal dossier of the Oulgaret Municipality in Puducherry documented an event in late 2025. Fifty emaciated dogs were released from an Animal Birth Control (ABC) centre there. The animals had been starved for a month and 20 dog deaths were recorded. There were also 50 complaints against the veterinarian. The ABC centre was run by the Hyderabad-based Vet Society for Animal Welfare and Rural Development. “Just before the inspection, the animals were released hastily,” says G. Ashok Raj, activist and honorary member of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI).
“The animals came out skin and bones; many had sutures falling apart. Community dog feeders saw some dogs dropping dead. We suspect they were starved for days,” he said.
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