SAFI vaccinates 1000 street dogs in Hyderabad, India. This vaccination drive focuses on dog health and human health. Sterilizing and Vaccinating will effectively reduce human-dog conflicts. The drive also educates and reminds people what to do if they get bit. Because as soon as any physical symptoms of the disease appear, it is fatal.
The logistics of planning and implementing Rabies Vaccination drive
We plan ahead by sending the sign-up forms to feeders, animal lovers, and more. We also recruit volunteers to assist.
Catching stray dogs is a challenge. The dogs see the dog catchers setting off a chase that may or may not result in a dog being caught, immobilized, and given a shot.
Each of our two teams has a minimum of one trained dog catcher, a vaccinator, a record keeper, and someone who applies paint to the dog once it is vaccinated so we do not vaccinate the same dog twice. If the dog cannot be caught by a local feeder or by using treats to bribe them, our trained catchers use their skills to trap them with a net.
We record how many dogs are vaccinated per area, if they are male or female, and if they have been spayed/neutered or not. The goal is to hit a minimum of 70% of the dogs in each area. 70% is the number needed to eradicate rabies.
It is proven that Cruel mass killings previously done by municipalities didn’t work. Dogs simply repopulated. Vaccinating & Sterilizing programs were proven effective in controlling populations in the long term.
Goa is India’s first and only state to become Rabies-free for four years. Kudos to Mission Rabies, World Veterinary Services Goa, and Dogstrust Worldwide. They proved the theory that achieving 70% vaccination coverage leads to eliminating the disease.
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