GCC Traces Owner of Abandoned Labrador in Chennai Using Microchip

On June 16, 2026, civic authorities in Chennai successfully traced a man who abandoned a labrador in Purasawalkam by using an embedded microchip. The incident highlights the growing role of microchipping as a key safeguard and tool to combat pet abandonment across the city.

The abandoned labrador was found on Nammazhvar Street in Purasawalkam. Following its discovery, the dog was rescued and taken to the Besant Memorial Animal Dispensary (BMAD) located in Besant Nagar.

Shravan Krishnan of BMAD reported that the dog was suffering from infections of mange and maggots when it was rescued. The animal is currently recouping at the dispensary. After taking in the dog, BMAD staff brought the abandonment to the attention of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC).

The veterinary department of the GCC utilized the microchip embedded in the labrador's body to identify and trace the owner. GCC veterinary officer Kamal Hussain stated that the civic body plans to impose a penalty of Rs 50,000 on the owner for abandoning the pet. Hussain also noted that many pet owners are currently unaware of this penal clause.

According to Krishnan, there has been a recent trend of owners abandoning pedigree pets on roads that lack CCTV camera coverage. Breeds such as labradors, German shepherds, dobermans, and great danes are frequently left by the roadside.

Animal welfare stakeholders and pet lovers state that microchipping provides a reliable method to identify pets, trace them back to their owners, and hold owners accountable. To date, approximately 79,000 pets have been microchipped in the region. Animal shelters hope that the continued adoption of microchipping will reduce desertion rates by making it much harder for owners to evade legal responsibility.