Vetcharity in Dharamsala and Bodhgaya, northern India are
using the ABC program designed by WSPA and WHO to improve the
health and control the population of dogs. ABC stands for animal
birth control program which is a catch and spay program, coupled
with a rabies vacination program.
Previous to using the ABC
method, catch and kill programs had been widespread in India.
These programs were not effectively controling the street dog
population even though they being killed in huge quantities. It
was found that the dog populations from neighbouring areas moved
into to the fill the population gap and breeding increased.
Another outcome of the catch and kill strategy is that it does
nothing to encourage dog owner to neuter there own pets and help
aid in population control. In many respect the ABC approach has
positive effects for the long term of the animal and human
population, with human rabies infection decreasing in the areas
where ABC is practised.
Vetcharity.org will open a cliinic
in Bodagaya during late 2004, which will include veterinary
emergency services, an animal shelter and running a vacination
and neutering program for the local dog population. The clinic
will be staffed by volunteer vets and vet nurses.
A large
animal project is being started to improve the health and
welfare of working animals including horses, buffalo, donkeys
and cows. These animals are used as transport for people and
goods and are often suffering malnutrition and work in extreme
heat up to 50 degrees and some without adequate water. Improving
the condition of these animals will benefit the human community
who earn a living from working with these animals. A mobile
clinic will bring veterinary medicine to the site of working
animals and provide veterinary care and education for the owners
of the animals, it will also be shared by the dog spaying
program.