Tech Meets Tails: Chandigarh's Plan to Microchip Street Dogs with AI

In a groundbreaking move for the region, Chandigarh has decided to implement microchips in street dogs to track them using artificial intelligence (AI). This initiative was approved by the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC) on Monday.

Mayor Kuldeep Kumar explained that the microchips would help authorities track street dogs and provide detailed data whenever a dog bites a resident. The chips will also aid in maintaining an accurate dog census.

"We are starting with 1,000 microchips on a pilot basis. This will help us conduct a digital census and track the dogs. In case of a dog bite, we can identify the specific dog involved," he said.

Municipal Commissioner Anindita Mitra added that the AI-based program would assist in dog tracking and sterilization efforts. "I have a microchip in my pet dog for tracking. This will help us keep proper records and conduct a dog census. We can also verify if a contractor has performed sterilizations. Pune municipal corporation has implemented a similar system, and many pet owners use these chips," Mitra noted. Each chip costs ₹500, bringing the total project cost for 1,000 chips to ₹5 lakh.

Officials mentioned that AI imaging of street dogs would also be possible. However, senior BJP councillor Mahesh Inder Singh Sidhu expressed concerns about the efficacy of the procedure.

"This is a new approach, and its effectiveness is unknown, which is why it's being tested on 1,000 dogs initially. The officials assured me that this installation is permitted under current norms," Sidhu stated.

The F&CC meeting, chaired by the mayor and attended by Mitra and other members, discussed this initiative. According to the latest census, there are about 12,000 street dogs in the city. Managing street dogs has been a significant issue, with residents urging their MPs to prioritize it.

The city has faced daily dog bite incidents despite extensive sterilization efforts. In the past 21 months, ₹1.26 crore has been spent sterilizing 7,412 street dogs. Sterilization costs ₹1,700 per dog, and the procedure has been conducted at ABC centers in Sector 38 (West) and Raipur Kalan.

Since April 2015, 28,218 street dogs have been sterilized, with various NGOs and firms participating in the process. This extensive sterilization campaign highlights the city's ongoing efforts to manage its street dog population effectively.