Thiruvananthapuram: Facing acute land scarcity and sustained public opposition to dog shelters in residential areas, the district administration has begun steps to identify vacant land near forest fringes in the capital for setting up dedicated stray dog shelters.Facing acute land scarcity and strong public opposition to stray dog shelters in residential areas, the district administration has initiated steps to identify vacant land near forest fringes in the capital for setting up dedicated facilities.Locations such as Kallara and Pallod, which are away from dense habitation and close to forest boundaries, are among the areas under consideration. The land revenue department has been directed to identify parcels of at least half an acre in forest-adjacent or uninhabited areas that are unsuitable for agriculture or human settlement.The move comes amid repeated difficulties in implementing the animal birth control (ABC) programme and in temporarily housing stray dogs due to space constraints and resistance from local residents. In the first phase, injured, aged and vulnerable dogs will be shifted to the proposed shelters. Priority will be given to animals picked up from overcrowded locations such as railway stations, markets, town centres and educational institutions.The project will be implemented under the supervision of the district animal protection officer and the joint director of the local self-govt department (LSGD). Once suitable land is identified and handed over, the LSGD will begin steps to operationalise the shelters, including recruiting caretakers, security staff and veterinary personnel, a senior LSGD official said.Sources in the land revenue department said general instructions had been issued to identify vacant land located far from residential areas to minimise public opposition, though the final site has not yet been selected. Funds have already been earmarked for fencing the land with an eight-foot-high compound wall, constructing covered shelters to protect dogs from sun and rain, and setting up kitchen facilities for food preparation.Senior veterinary officer Dr D Shine Kumar said the initiative was conceived in response to frequent protests against ABC centres and dog shelters in populated areas. “There is strong resistance whenever the administration attempts to relocate or shelter stray dogs. Residents often question why dogs are being brought into their neighbourhoods. This approach seeks to address those concerns,” he said, adding that a similar model has been implemented at Kuryottumala in Kollam district.
