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KVASU will launch Animal Birth Control Programme (RAKSHA) for control of Stray Dog Population in Kozhikkode

             In order to control the stray dog menace and to prevent the increasing incidence of Rabies, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University will launch Animal Birth Control Programme (RAKSHA) for control of Stray Dog Population in Calicut. Directorate of Entrepreneurship is co-ordinating this programme with the experts from Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology of College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences of Pookode. Stray dog population of the state is increasing in an exponential manner and the Local Self Governments are finding it difficult to control the menace caused by them. There is an approximate estimate of more than 10 lakh stray dogs in the state. It is multiplying exponentially every year, which is very much evident from the increasing number of stray dog bites and clinical cases of rabies in the state. Control of stray dog population is the “need of the hour” for the state. The cruel methods of killing of dogs cannot be accepted by any civilized society and India being a welfare state respecting the rights of animals also, the method adopted for dog population control should be scientific and humane. Animal Birth Control by surgical sterilization is the proven method, world-wide, for the control of stray dog population in any demographically dense urban areas. Animal Welfare Board of India is the agency responsible for the maintenance of welfare standards while performing such a mass surgical sterilization of stray dogs and they have developed a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the same. The dogs may be caught by humane methods and they may be kept under observation before and after surgery and may be released to the same area where from they were caught after necessary post operative care, including antibiotic coverage.

                    The surgery team from KVASU will reach the site in a specially designed surgical ambulance which will have the facility of AC operation theatre and laparoscopic surgery unit, Oxygen supply unit and power generator support. Female dogs will be operated by laparoscopic (Key hole surgery) method as well as the mini laparotomy method, depending on the case load. All the male dogs will be operated by standard prescrotal method of castration. Capturing the dogs and release of dogs after postoperative observation are the responsibility of the local self govt. An estimated number of thirty dogs per day will be sterilized every day during this five day camp from 22nd march, 2015. The surgical team comprises of Dr. Syam K. Venugopal, Dr. S. Sooryadas, Dr. Dinesh P.T., Dr. Reji Varghese, Dr. Jinesh, Dr. Joju Johns, Dr. Anuraj, Dr. Sarath, Dr. Divya Suresh and Dr. Maruthy of KVSU Pookode campus,