The ageing Animal Birth Control (ABC) centre of the Kochi Corporation at Brahmapuram may require substantial electrical rewiring to function at optimum capacity.

The Corporation’s engineering department has confirmed the need for rewiring and is expected to prepare an estimate shortly. This has affected the centre’s operations, restricting daily sterilisation surgeries of stray dogs to an average of six. The centre currently has one veterinary surgeon, two operation theatre assistants, and six animal handlers.

Incidentally, the centre remained closed for several months in 2024 for maintenance. Its functioning was also disrupted when the sole vehicle used for capturing dogs and transporting them to the centre was taken off the road for periodic fitness tests.

Meanwhile, construction of 12 additional kennels, with the capacity to accommodate about 40 strays in addition to the existing 26, is progressing. The veterinary surgeon has requested four additional animal handlers once two new vehicles are added to the fleet. The request has been forwarded by the health standing committee for approval by the Corporation council. At present, the centre operates with only one ageing vehicle.

Recruiting fresh dog catchers has proved difficult, as the job is physically demanding and socially stigmatised. Existing catchers have long been paid ₹21,000 per month along with benefits such as Provident Fund and ESI.

Though Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited had agreed to fund two vehicles for the centre, the estimate prepared in early 2025 is now sufficient for only one. “One vehicle cannot be purchased using funds originally allocated for two due to potential audit objections. A revised estimate has therefore been submitted to BPCL for buying two vehicles as planned,” said Corporation sources.

In addition, the centre has yet to procure essential equipment, including an ice-lined refrigerator, autoclave, hydraulic surgical table, pressure pump, and furniture. Although tenders were invited more than once, the process stalled due to inadequate documentation by participants.

The centre focusses on sterilising female dogs, as this alone helps check the proliferation of strays. While male dogs are released two days after surgery, female dogs require up to three days— and in cases of complications, even five— before release.