Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) is preparing to launch RAKSHA, an animal birth control programme, to tackle stray dog menace and stop the rising incidence of rabies in the State, with the support of local bodies.
Talking to The Hindu, B. Ashok, Vice Chancellor, KVASU, said here on Friday that there was dire need to control stray dog population as there was a rise in the clinical cases of rabies in the State.
“Animal birth control by surgical sterilisation is the proven method to control stray dog population in any demographically dense urban area,” Dr. Ashok said adding that the mass surgical sterilisation of stray dogs had been developed as per the standard operating procedure of the Animal Welfare Board of India.
First in Kozhikode
The project would be launched in Kozhikode on Sunday in association with the Kozhikode Corporation. Close to 30 dogs would be sterilised everyday during the five-day camp.
The dogs would be kept under observation before and after surgery. They would be released in the area from where they were caught after necessary post-operative care, including antibiotic coverage, said T.P. Sethumadhavan, Director of Entrepreneurship, KVASU. Capturing the dogs and releasing them after post-operative observation would be the responsibility of the local bodies, Dr. Sethumadhavan added.
Special unit
The surgery team from KVASU would reach the site in a specially designed surgical ambulance that would have an AC operation theatre and laparoscopic surgery unit, oxygen supply unit, and power generator support.
A 10-member surgical team led by Shyam K. Venugopal, professor, S. Sooryadas, and P.T. Dinesh, assistant professors, Department of Surgery and Radiology, KVASU, will perform the surgeries.
