Almost four years after it took over the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme for stray dogs at Pulianthope dog pound, the Chennai Corporation has taken a U-turn, deciding to bring back NGOs for the maintenance and operation of the ABC centre.

Facing the ire of animal rights activists for the alleged unhygienic maintenance of the pound and botched up sterilisation surgeries, the Greater Chennai City Corporation has invited NGOs to maintain and operate the ABC centre at Basin Bridge Lethal Chamber (BRLC), Pulianthope.

Until 2014, the pound was run by the NGO People for Animals (PfA). But that year, the civic body took over the centre and began operating it – only to face a string of accusations about the way the centre was being run.

“It requires experience and meticulousness – we conducted 800-1,000 surgeries per month. The process included following protocol before surgery, ensuring post-operative care, keeping the male and female dogs separate and finally, dropping the dogs back at the exact street from where they were picked up,” said Dr Shiranee Pereira, co-founder of PfA, the organisation that was running the Pulianthope pound.

The Corporation faced severe backlash after activists posted videos on social media that showed the horrific condition of the dogs after surgery. Activist Sai Vignesh had taken the civic body to court with a public interest litigation over this.