The street dogs at Marina beach will be soon getting ID cards with photographs and identification marks, with a separate feeding area. This is part of the canine census for reducing the stray dog menace in Chennai.
According to a new pilot project, activists have decided to ‘adopt’ the Marina beach.
Animal welfare activist Dinesh Baba told The Times of India that they came up with this idea after speaking to the deputy commissioner of police, Mylapore, V Balakrishnan.
Police had conducted a survey among the morning walkers on the Marina and the problems they come across. Dinesh Baba said that many people said that there are many stray dogs roped in. The activists will be visiting the beach twice a week and helping the dogs.
Moreover, Balakrishnan wants one or two places for the stray dogs as feeding places. Balakrishnan told TOI that they discussed with experts as they wanted solutions to prevent the menace and also make sure dogs are safe.
The activists will be first mapping the area, take a census of the dogs, take their pictures, note down the identification marks and also tag their location using mobile phones, according to The Times of India.
Veterinarians will also specify how to deal with different dog behaviours, so that people can easily approach the dogs.
This story was first reported by Priya Menon of The Times of India.