The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is gearing up to implement a controversial pilot project involving the insertion of microchips into free-roaming street dogs, despite opposition from animal activists who deem the initiative invasive and a misuse of public funds.
Officials from the BBMP’s animal husbandry department confirmed the move, asserting that the microchips will streamline the vaccination process by preventing unnecessary revaccinations within short intervals.
The project, slated to commence with 1,000 street dogs across three zones as part of a pilot, is estimated to cost Rs 5 lakh. The microchips, around one inch in size, will be implanted between the shoulder blades using thick hypodermic needles. Each microchip will contain a unique code that can be scanned using specialized readers, with 10 readers allocated per zone.
We aim to avoid multiple vaccinations per year for the same dogs, which can have adverse health effects, especially with the anti-rabies vaccine, explained a senior BBMP official from the animal husbandry department.
The BBMP’s decision has sparked outcry among animal rights advocates, who argue that microchipping poses risks such as spinal damage and infections if not executed properly. They also question its efficacy for free-roaming dogs, unlike owned pets tracked internationally.
BBMP Special Commissioner (Health) Vikas Suralkar assured transparency: We have engaged experts and held consultations with animal lovers to address apprehensions. All data will be publicly accessible to ensure oversight.
Activists like Sujaya Jagadish of the Animal Welfare Board of India criticize the initiative for deviating from standard procedures and potential ethical concerns. Microchipping street dogs, unlike owned pets, raises ethical and practical challenges. It’s an invasive procedure that could lead to unintended health risks Jagadish said.
