The latest from leh

The Leh Street Dog Sterilization Project for 2008 is now more than halfway through. The new clinic is close to completion and we are hoping to be operating out of it before the end of this week. The light and space will be greatly appreciated, especially by those used to working in the old clinic! Volunteers from Australia, Poland, the US, Canada and New Zealand have helped desex and rabies vaccinate more than 500 dogs so far. Many of these dogs have come from the army camps that surround the region. They are big healthy animals who breed prolifically, so it is great to be able to catch and desex these dogs.

Thank you to the many volunteers who have brought with them suture material, drugs, IV catheters, etc that have been donated by their clinics or drug company representatives. These items are always extremely useful and the generosity of the donors is greatly appreciated. Thank you also to Worldwide Veterinary Services which has been very helpful in donating Advantix which is great for ridding the dogs of the annoying fly known colloquially as the "Beegu" or by its scientific name, Hippobosca longipennis.

The team has also been holding rabies vaccination camps to vaccinate pet dogs in Leh and surrounding areas, these events are continuing and proving popular. During the camp is a great chance to chat with and educate the locals about rabies. It is a disease of which there is much fear in Ladakh but little local knowledge.

Finally, locals and volunteers are excited about the visit of the Karmapa to Leh later on this month. The visits by the Dalai Lama last year and the Karmapa this year are marked by genuine excitement and reverence of the Ladakhi people toward these Buddhist leaders. This is a great reminder to us of what a unique and special culture we are working in.

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