2008 Set to be Breakthrough Year in Fight Against Rabies

A new year in the fight against rabies and animal suffering in Nepal

2008 will be our best year yet – that’s the confident prediction from staff at the Kathmandu Animal Treatment Centre (KAT) as they move into a new year in the fight against rabies and animal suffering in Nepal.

The charity is the only one working in the country conducting an Animal Birth Control program (sterilisation and vaccination against rabies) to humanely lower the numbers of dogs in the Kathmandu area and ensure the remaining population is healthy and rabies-free.

KAT has only been in existence since May 2004 and already 4,840 dogs have passed through the Animal Birth Control program. In three and a half years, KAT has covered an estimated 39% of the female dogs within the ‘ring road’ area of central Kathmandu, which has prevented an estimated 45,000 unwanted puppies being born.

A further 1,211 sick and injured dogs have passed through the Rescue Treatment program.

During 2007 KAT benefited from the arrival of its second animal ambulance, donated with money from World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA).

Last year also saw the American-based Humane Society International (HSI) and the UK-based Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals funded KAT to conduct a Disaster Relief Project following the aftermath of extensive flooding which had affected the villagers and animals in Holiya, Banke, Nepal. KAT Veterinarian, Dr Pramod Dhakal, who led a group of staff, reported that some 5,000 animals (mainly livestock) were given food and veterinary treatment.

This coming year the charity hopes:

* to further expand the sterilisation program to cover 50% of the area within the Kathmandu ring road.
* to employ two more staff to help reach this goal and further extend the Education Programme

* KAT will continue to look at Government land options to expand the Centre

* to build further relations with the Public Health Department of  the Kathmandu Municipality and Veterinary Department for their support to further facilitate KAT’s mission

KAT founder Jan Salter said: “2007 has undoubtedly been a wonderful year for us. But we cannot rest on our laurels – there is still much work to be done. I think 2008 is shaping up to be our best year yet.

“KAT has worked hard to bring about these positive changes in the lives of the street dogs in Kathmandu. We would like to thank the Kathmandu Municipality for their support and their role in helping to bring this about.”

Author Details
Ryan O'Meara is editor-in-chief of K9 Magazine, the lifestyle magazine for dog lovers. He lives in the East Midlands with his own two dogs, Mia and Chloe. - See this author's webpage

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