The new multi-specialty veterinary hospital of Kochi Corporation at Brahmapuram aims at completing the sterilisation and vaccination of stray dogs within the Corporation limits in two to three years.
According to preliminary data, there are about 150 stray dogs in each of the 74 wards taking the potential number to over 11,000. However, teams of veterinary assistants and doctors are set to conduct a detailed census in the coming days. “We will collect data from 12-15 divisions and extrapolate it for the remaining divisions to arrive at a probable number,” said Acty George, one of the two principal veterinary investigators heading the hospital.
With 20 days in a month earmarked for surgeries, the hospital is looking at anywhere between 400-500 surgeries a month with an annual target of between 4,000 to 5,000 surgeries. Since the team of four veterinary surgeons and four assistants has been trained at Ooty-based Worldwide Veterinary Services-International Training Centre with a well established protocol for surgeries, the time taken for a surgery is expected to come down gradually resulting in increased number of surgeries.
