A programme to sterilise pet dogs at a subsidised rate has been conceived by the district unit of the Indian Veterinary Association (IVA), in association with the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Science University (KVASU) and the Animal Husbandry Department of the State government.
The programme — SAFE (Social and Friendly Environment) — plans to make an advanced keyhole method of laparoscopic sterilisation technique available to pets in the Malabar region at a highly subsidised rate. The new method is used in place of the conventional open laparoscopic sterilisation method involving bothersome post-operative care and other complexities, said A.C. Mohandas, president of IVA, Kozhikode.
Many pet owners did not intend to breed their pets, he said. But most of them were unaware of the advances in veterinary surgery involving minimum surgical interventions. This surgery can also be used in future to sterilise stray dogs, in collaboration with local bodies, Dr. Mohandas said.
Besides providing the post-operative follow-up medication, each dog would be given a dose of anti rabies vaccination after the surgery. “Checking the steady increase of unwanted animal population and reducing the spread of deadly diseases such as rabies are among the objectives of the programme,” he said.
The pet owners could register for the operation with IVA, Kozhikode. The surgery would be performed by a team of experts from the surgery department of KVASU. “Arrangements will also be made for pet owners to watch the operation live on a closed-circuit television,” said Dr. Mohandas.
The surgery would be conducted at the District Veterinary Hospital in the city in the last week of June, tentatively, said K. Nina Kumar, secretary, IVA. “The exact date will be communicated to the registered pet owners,” said Dr. Kumar. Registrations can be made during office hours on Ph: 9446335513 (Bijilee Bhaskar).
