About Vetcharity.org Based In India
By Gabrielle Smith, Fri Dec 9th

Vetcharity in Dharamsala and Bodhgaya, northern India are usingthe ABC program designed by WSPA and WHO to improve the healthand control the population of dogs. ABC stands for animal birthcontrol program which is a catch and spay program, coupled witha rabies vacination program.

Previous to using the ABC method, catch and kill programs hadbeen widespread in India. These programs were not effectivelycontroling the street dog population even though they beingkilled in huge quantities. It was found that the dog populationsfrom neighbouring areas moved into to the fill the populationgap and breeding increased. Another outcome of the catch andkill strategy is that it does nothing to encourage dog owner toneuter there own pets and help aid in population control. Inmany respect the ABC approach has positive effects for the longterm of the animal and human population, with human rabiesinfection decreasing in the areas where ABC is practised.

Vetcharity.org will open a cliinic in Bodagaya during late2004, which will include veterinary emergency services, ananimal shelter and running a vacination and neutering programfor the local dog population. The clinic will be staffed byvolunteer vets and vet nurses.

A large animal project is being started to improve the healthand welfare of working animals including horses, buffalo,donkeys and cows. These animals are used as transport for peopleand goods and are often suffering malnutrition and work inextreme heat up to 50 degrees and some without adequate water.Improving the condition of these animals will benefit the humancommunity who earn a living from working with these animals. Amobile clinic will bring veterinary medicine to the site ofworking animals and provide veterinary care and education forthe owners of the animals, it will also be shared by the dogspaying program.

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