The centres, functioning at Nungambakkam in South Chennai and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar in the north, will also offer services like immunisation, licensing dogs, rehabilitation and monitoring the quality of meat and milk, free of cost.

Inaugurating the centre at Lake Area in Nungambakkam, Mayor M Subramanian said the long-pending demand from the public for establishing a veterinary health centre for pet animals has been met. About half-anacre has been earmarked for burying pet animals at Moolakothalam and Mylapore crematoriums, in an effort to avoid dead animals being thrown in waterways or left in garbage bins. “This also is a first-of-its-kind initiative by any Municipal Corporation in India,” he noted.

On the measures taken by the Corporation authorities to control dog population in the city, the Mayor said more than 70,000 stray dogs were subjected to surgery under Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme since 2006 with the help from five NGOs, including SPCA and Blue Cross. In contrast, only 7,000 to 8,000 stray dogs underwent the surgery from 2001 and 2006. “If the response is encouraging, more such veterinary centres will be opened in others of parts of the city,” Subramanian stated.

Earlier, addressing the gathering, Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni said that no rabies deaths were reported in Chennai in the last three years. Other pet animals like cats, rabbits, ducks, hens, love birds, parrots and pigeons are also treated at the veterinary centres, which would have two veterinary doctors and assistants.

Treatment for skin disorders, respiratory infections, reproductive and urinary problems are available.

Address of Veterinary PHCs (Pet Animals) in Chennai: School Road, Lake Area, (near Independence Day Park), Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 034; Pallavan Salai, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Chennai - 600 011.