Vets Beyond Borders Australia

Published 14 Jul 2008

This year all the dogs are also being rabies vaccinated. This is important as there was an outbreak of rabies in Eastern Ladakh in March this year and the local government is funding the cost of the vaccines to help prevent its spread to urban areas. As well as rabies vaccinating all the dogs being neutered, the team have so far held two vaccination days so far this season with the public being informed by radio, posters and through word of mouth. The turn outs have been encouraging with a total of 86 owned dogs being vaccinated, most of which had been desexed in the past two years of operations.

Another exciting event was the visit from the US by expert wildlife vet Dr Mark Johnson who introduced some new catching equipment and techniques that has made the dog catchers job much easier and meant that fewer of the stray dogs will escape neutering.

There are some serious site improvements occurring with a new clinic being built and the completion of the perimeter fence, new toilets and dog holding pens. The team are awaiting the arrival of a solar refridgerator that has been ordered and to commence the use of a government vehicle that has been promised. All of these things will help the efficiency of the programme and have benefits for the welfare of local animals and the health and safety of the community.

All of this has been made possible through Vets Beyond Borders partnership with the Ladakh Animal Care Society and most importantly by the generous funding of the Foundation Bridgitte Bardot.