Planned to coincide with World Rabies Day on September 28, the campaign team set off in September in the specially designed truck, with the aim of vaccinating 50,000 dogs against rabies across India at various checkpoints.
The team of veterinary and student volunteers was put together by Worldwide Veterinary Service, which founded the Mission Rabies initiative. Working with Indian animal welfare organisations, government officials and veterinary colleges, the team will have vaccinated approximately 60,000 dogs "by the time all the results are processed," Luke Gamble, WVS founder told VNonline.
"It’s a staggering result, to vaccinate on average 2,000 street dogs every day for 30 days, is amazing. It’s all down to a combination of incredible sponsors such as Dogs Trust, WVS, WSAVA, and WTG among others, who believed in Mission Rabies and the most amazing team of volunteers who made this happen with sheer sweat, hard work and inspiring heart," he said.
"To be a part of such an international team has been a huge privilege and joining this fight against rabies has steeled us for what promises to be an incredible journey ahead. The mobile vet hospital now starts the surgical training courses in the first checkpoint as of tomorrow, October 1."
Following the month-long vaccination mission, the truck will now return to each checkpoint for a month and work with animal welfare organisations to deliver training programmes to Indian vets and animal care workers, giving them the skills to sustainably and humanely manage street dog populations and continue the programme of rabies vaccination. The target is to vaccinate two million dogs across India over the next three years.
For more information visit www.missionrabies.com
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
