Cow & canine catchers of Greater Chennai Corporation ask for permanency, advantages and higher coaching measures

Dog and cow catchers of the Chennai Corporation, concerned within the rescue of stray animals and cattle, have requested to be supplied with coaching, and are additionally demanding that their jobs be made everlasting. Up till now they are saying, there isn’t any formal coaching course of in place, leaving them unequipped to deal with hazards.

“When I joined a shelter in Madhavaram over a decade ago, I was asked if I wanted to clean a room with 20 dogs, or a room with one dog. I opted for the latter, thinking it would be easy. It turns out that the single dog was affected by rabies. After one year with the shelter, I began capturing dogs for the Greater Chennai Corporation. I learnt that the earlier ‘training’ was an attempt to reduce our fear of dogs,” stated a canine catcher of GCC’s zone 3 in Madhavaram.

Dog catchers of zone 5 in Royapuram and zone 11 in Alandur echoed related views. While the gear used has now been upgraded: from ropes to basket nets and security gear is now offered, the dangers the catchers face haven’t been nullified. “I have been a dog catcher for over 10 years, but I still have not been made permanent in my job. I have not been given benefits such as membership of the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF),” stated a employee in zone 11.

At current, the GCC has 75 canine catchers and 16 dog-catching autos operated underneath the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023. After surgical procedure for neutering and rabies vaccinations, the stray dogs are launched at their seize websites.

Meanwhile, one other set of individuals, employed as cow catchers, additionally say that their jobs, which too, are dangerous, should even be made everlasting. They additionally pointed to the necessity for formal coaching. There are 25 cow catchers within the metropolis working for the GCC, underneath the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM).

“I first worked in the cow depot in Perambur under zone 6 to understand cattle behaviour, and then moved to the job of capturing cows before the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. I have been hurt often while attempting to capture cows. We are paid ₹200 per cow, with a target of two cows per day. If we fail to meet this target, ₹110 per day is deducted from our salary of ₹13,000. I have a daughter to educate and rent expenses to meet, which is tough in this situation,” stated a cow catcher of zone 6 in Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar. He added that supervising officers of the GCC who accompany them throughout cattle capturing are solely bystanders, and don’t take any initiative to assist throughout a disaster.

Responding to the calls for of the cow and canine catchers, GCC Commissioner J. Radhakrishnan stated, “This is a valid request. As a qualified veterinarian, I understand that animal behaviour can be very unpredictable. Most of these workers are under NULM. A programme involving animal trainers from districts across the State can be organised at the Chennai Corporation. The Corporation will also check on the emergency medical needs of the workers as soon as possible.”