Spay 2018

Sterilization & Vaccination Program - DJ Vet Line -Kuliyapitiya

2018-02-20T07:17:00.000+05:30

Free Sterilization & Vaccination Program at DJ Vet Line Animal Clinic & Surgery-Kuliyapitiya. This program was carried out through the donations of Ms. Carla Della Maggiora, who lives in Switzerland.

Sterilization & Vaccination Program - Sri-Wimalarama Temple, Aluthwatta.

2018-02-01T07:02:00.000+05:30

Free sterilization and anti-rabies vaccination program was carried out at Aluth watta through the support and donations of Ms. Carla Della Maggiora, who lives in Switzerland, and shares a passion to improve animal welfare and their relationship with humans.

Animal SOS - Sri Lanka

2018-01-28T10:44:00.000+05:30

Nelson is just one of the 1000's of suffering animals that our charity has saved since opening our clinic doors in July 2009. We are there for injured, sick and destitute animals every day of the week and not only offer emergency veterinary care to save their lives, but also refuge and rehabilitation so they have the opportunity and encouragement to enjoy a quality of life in our beautiful sanctuary in southern Sri Lanka after being nursed back to health. We give these animals a chance of life, even those that many would deem to be beyond help, Nelson is just one of these miracles...

The Animal SOS Sri Lanka in Ahangama, Galle is a somewhat novel idea to Sri Lanka as it is an orphanage for Cats & Dogs

Colombo stray dogs leave CMC bigwigs racking their brains

2018-01-28T10:25:00.002+05:30

The Veterinary Department of the Colombo Municipal Council (Vet CMC) yesterday said there had been a large number of complaints about stray dogs. CMC Chief Municipal Veterinarian, Dr Vipula Dharmawardanaa said some complaints were of stray dog bites.

"However, the majority complaints are about other issues," He observed. The complaints have been made by the National Hospital, Colombo, Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, De Soysa and Castle Street Hospitals for Women, SLAF Hospital, schools in the Colombo city MC area, Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education in Mattakkuliya, Presidential Secretariat Office, the Colombo Magistrate Court Complex, te Police Headquarters, Cinnamon Gardens Police Stations, the Welikada Prison, the Ports Authority, the Defence Ministry, the Ministry of Internal Transport, the Kelanitissa Power Station, the NARA Institute, the BMICH, the Kettarama and Sugathadasa Stadias, the Fort Railway Station and all public markets in Colombo.

Dr Dharmawardana said dog count taken in May last year had shown there were approximately 2,500 stray dogs in the Colombo city. A dog census carried out in the city in 2014, by a private non governmental organisation (NGO) had found that there were about 5,000 stray dogs in the city, he added.

Chief Municipal Veterinarian said that it was too early to carry out a second census this year. The efforts of the council to control strays had been in vain as people living outside the city limits brought dogs into Colombo and abandoned them in public places mainly near market places, meat and fish stalls.

Media Spokesman for the Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government (MPCLG), Amila Balasuriya said, the Ministry Secretary K. Padmasiri had appointed a committee to assess the stray dog situation and to brief the Cabinet on the decisions could be taken regarding it within five weeks. The committee comprises Secretaries of the Ministries of Health, Livestock and Rural Community Development, and Commissioner of the Western Provincial Council and the Chief Municipal Veterinarian of the Colombo Municipal Council.

The first meeting of the committee was held early this month;it was decided to come up with a National Policy to control stray dogs. The committee members visited the Narahenpita and Kirulapona public markets where stray dogs could be seen.

The Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government will also take steps to amend the Rabies Ordinance No 7 of 1893 and the Dog Registration Ordinance No 25 of 1901.

Provisions in the new amendments stated that a National advisory committee was to be appointed including members from the Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Livestock and Rural Community Development, and Department of Animal Production & Health to regulate, instruct and supervise the actions taken to prevent and control rabies. According to these new amendments, it is the duty of all Local Government authorities to register all dogs in the relevant administrative area annually, he said. The total expenditure for registering dogs would be determined by local government authorities.

Meanwhile, Director of Public Health Services Dr P. A. L. Harischandra, quoting recent data, said that in 2015, there had been 2,000,000 pet dogs. Approximately 1,500,000 had been vaccinated and about 150,000 of the dogs had been sterilized. The Ministry spent Rs. 230 million on vaccination and sterilization. Rs. 400 million had been spent on vaccinating people bitten by dogs, he said.

By Dilanthi Jayamanne

Sterilization & Vaccination Program-DJ Vet Line Animal Clinic & Surgery -Kuliyapitiya

2018-01-25T08:52:00.001+05:30

Free sterilization and anti-rabies vaccination program was launched on 20.01.2018 at DJ Vet Line Animal Clinic & Surgery - Kuliyapitiya through the support and donations of Ms. Carla della Maggiora. Thankfully with help from Ms. Carla, we were able to sterilize 10 animals and vaccinate 15 dogs and cats at this campaign.

Human rabies deaths, dog rabies vaccinations and human anti-rabies vaccinations in Sri Lanka, 1970–2015

2018-01-24T06:41:00.001+05:30

Sterilization & Vaccination Program- Godagamwela Part 11

2018-01-24T06:21:00.001+05:30

Free sterilization and anti-rabies vaccination program part II was carried out on 05.01.2018 on kind request of people at Godagamwela .

Setting up the field clinic

Vaccination against Rabies

Preparing for the surgery

Surgery is in progress

National policy on stray dogs soon: Musthapha

2018-01-22T07:42:00.000+05:30

About 500,000 stray dogs in Sri Lanka?

Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faiszer Musthapha has decided to implement a national policy to control stray dogs. Accordingly, a pilot project will begin in the Colombo District, for a period of six months.

Ministry Secretary Kamal Padmasiri will appoint a committee to make the Cabinet aware of the decisions, which will be taken within three weeks. The members of the committee are Secretaries to the Ministries of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, Livestock and Rural Community Development, and Commissioner of Western Province and the Municipal veterinarian in Colombo district.

Minister Musthapha said: “There are about 500,000 stray dogs in Sri Lanka. This amount increases day by day. Local Government Authorities receive a large number of complaints from the public who face difficulties because of this issue. A permanent solution is needed. Rabies should be eradicated from Sri Lanka. I discussed this issue with Welfare Associations for Animals. Taking their ideas into consideration, killing dogs is not a solution to this problem. If pet dogs go stray, or dogs are not registered and if the dogs are released for public places, actions will be taken against the owners."

According to a decision taken by the Cabinet last year, the Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government is amending the existing ordinance related to rabies and the ordinance related registering dogs.

"We are coordinating with Animal Welfare Associations and Technical officers. Under the new amendments, provisions have been included to control dog population. Welfare organisations for animals have agreed to these amendments," he said.

According to the new amendments, actions will be taken to control dogs with no owners. Provisions have been included in a manner that the rabies vaccination is a must while registering dogs. Provisions in the new amendments says that a National advisory committee is to be appointed including members from the Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministry, Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Ministry, Livestock and Rural Community Development Ministry, and the Animal Health Department to regulate, instruct and to supervise the actions that are taken to prevent and control Rabies.

According to these new Amendments, It is the duty of all Local Government Authorities to register all dogs in the relevant administrative area annually. If a particular person neglects registering dogs or fails to issue the registering certificate of registering, they will be fined 10,000 rupees, he said.

Everything You Need To Know About Sri Lanka’s Stray Dog Situation

2018-01-22T07:25:00.000+05:30

Before the floods occurred, the Government’s spotlight had been trained on the country’s street pooches, and animal welfare organisations (AWOs), activists and animal lovers had been up in arms in their defense. With a hundred different claims, rebuttals, and proposals flying back and forth in the news and social media, it has been pretty hard to sift through all that and secure an accurate idea of what’s going on. Keeping this in mind, we decided to break things down a little and present the situation as it is.

Seeing a dog snoozing on a street corner is, sadly, not an unusual sight in Sri Lanka.

It all began when the Government announced its intention to roll out a policy concerning the country’s stray dogs. According to media reports, Minister of Local Government and Provincial Councils, Faiszer Musthapha, had been requested by the cabinet to present a proposal on managing the stray dog “menace” – and Sri Lanka’s AWOs are finding the announcement pretty ominous.

The Government cites several reasons for this sudden focus on the island’s canine strays. Complaints have allegedly been made to a number of local councils about stray dogs in public places. Rabies, while drastically on the decline, still exists (with 24 deaths in 2015), and needs to be completely eliminated. Sri Lanka also seems to amass a large number of dog bite cases, which costs the Government hundreds of millions in treatment for dog-bite victims each year .

Normally, a move like this shouldn’t be a cause for concern ‒ after all, the policy objectives are noble ones, and these issues do need solving ‒ but Sri Lankan AWOs, activists, and animal lovers are anxious for a number of reasons. For instance, many claim the Minister’s continuous reference to a 500,000 stray dog population in the country to be inaccurate and unfounded ‒ something which does not bode well. If the Government can’t get simple statistics straight, how can they fully address the problem?

“As far as we are aware, no comprehensive dog count has been performed on the entire island,” said Otara Gunewardene, founder of the Otara Foundation and Embark. Speaking to Roar, she explained that different entities working around the island will have numbers for the areas they work in, but despite surveys, there is no uniform system that organisations use to keep track of the stray dog population.

When it comes to statistics, another complication that arises is the fact that the distinction between street, community, and owned dogs is not always clear. Even if a comprehensive count is performed, it would be difficult to pinpoint which category each dog belongs in.

Another reason for alarm is the Government’s suggestion to remove stray dogs from public areas, an act which, according to AWOs, will not only be ineffective for population control but also detrimental to the well-being of the dogs. However, the biggest cause for anxiety is the fact that the Government is re-evaluating the situation at all, when the best solution available (the internationally accepted Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release method) is already being implemented.

Who Is To Blame For The Number Of Canine Strays On Our Streets?

Street Dogs in Sri Lanka

Well, it certainly is not the dogs. As it turns out, people’s actions are to be blamed for aggravating the stray dog situation.

A Shih Tzu anyone? Excessive breeding and increased demand for pedigreed dogs make it difficult for vaccinated and sterilized puppies to find homes.

Some contributory factors include:

Dumping unwanted puppies in public places.
How can we possibly keep dogs off the street when unsavoury people keep sneaking in more of them right back? Not only is this cruel and inconsiderate, but it also undoes all the hard work AWOs and the Government has done to curb the problem.

Dumping garbage on the streets.
We may cover our noses and run past them, but all those garbage dumps are like dinner buffets to hungry stray dogs. On top of that, councils sometimes fail to systematically remove garbage from streets. It is only natural that stray dogs will congregate in such places. After all, if you knew of a place that regularly offers fantastic free food, wouldn’t you rush over there and stay there?
Excessive breeding of pedigreed dogs.
Why have a cute mongrel puppy for free, when we can spend thousands on an expensive Shih Tzu pup instead? That train of thought makes little sense, but strangely, people seem to think that way anyway. An increasing number of individuals prefer splurging on some expensive pure-bred dog with a fancy name, rather than give a home to a homeless mongrel puppy, making it even harder to remove stray pups and dogs from the streets. This unregulated dog breeding industry is one of the main factors authorities should be focusing on, since many of these dogs actually end up on the streets.

What’s a smelly rubbish dump to us is a source of food for stray dogs.

How Have We Dealt With Stray Dogs Thus Far?

Before Mahinda Rajapaksa implemented the No Kill policy in 2006, the 1897 Rabies Ordinance allowed stray dogs to be rounded up and gassed; a horrifying and painful end for thousands of innocent animals. However, not only was this method inhumane and cruel, but it also proved to be ineffective in controlling rabies.

Statistics clearly show that culling dogs made no significant difference in the number of rabies cases. However, the number of dog rabies cases dramatically nosedived after the implementation of the No Kill Policy and increased number of vaccinations and sterilizations.

Thankfully, under the No Kill Policy, the Sri Lankan Government replaced the culling method with more effective CNVR (Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release) method, which has since then resulted in a dramatic drop in human rabies deaths.

Vaccinating a stray pooch.

However, the authorities have turned to dubious techniques in the past, which is probably the reason why AWOs are voicing their concern now. One such method which was occasionally resorted to stems from the simple strategy of moving an annoyance elsewhere: basically, relocation. This was most significantly done during the Colombo beautification project prior to the CHOGM 2013, when the Government rounded up Colombo’s stray dogs and either moved them to remote areas or temporarily confined them in shelters, in spite of the howls of protest drawn from Sri Lankan AWOs. Not only does relocation spell unhappiness for the dog, but it also tends to be unwise in terms of population control. When sterilized and vaccinated dogs are removed from their territory, the existing herd immunity is broken. This leave gaps for other dogs, which are neither sterilized nor vaccinated, to enter the area. In this way, all the money, energy and time spent on neutering and vaccinating the dogs go to waste, and the situation is back to square one.

Dogs dumped in unfamiliar areas tend to be vulnerable to starvation and attack from other dogs from the area.

The government once also made a catastrophic attempt to run an animal shelter for stray dogs in Nellikulama, Anuradhapura. With around 400 dogs living in horrifying conditions, the establishment was such an utter disaster that it was forced to close down shortly after being established, at the cost of millions of rupees and many lives of innocent dogs. In the end, AWOs had to intervene to rescue the surviving dogs left to die amidst squalor and disease.

What Is The Best Solution To The Problem?

AWOs are convinced that a dynamic CNVR (Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return) method is the most humane and effective means of controlling the stray dog population and making Sri Lanka rabies free. Not only is this method WHO approved and internationally accepted, but it has also produced considerable results in Sri Lanka.

CNVR is pegged as a slow process as it is not as visually satisfying to authorities as removing dogs permanently. Still, the numbers speak for themselves – there has been a significant decrease in the number of human rabies-related deaths since the CNVR-only method was brought in. Looking at the situation logically, the most rational course of action here would be to manage and monitor the factors that actually impede this method.

Otara Gunewardene

“CNVR is a humane and effective way of handling the issue of overpopulation and the spread of rabies, benefiting both the people and the dogs with a long-term solution,” says Otara Gunewardene, speaking of CNVR and the factors that hinder it. “We are confident that if these issues can be regulated and the necessary policies implemented ‒ including the Animal Welfare Bill – then a comprehensive CNVR method would bring faster and better progress than ever before.”

However, AWOs stress on the fact that the CNVR method is ineffective without the “R” factor of it ‒ releasing or returning animals to the locations from which they were captured. “The theory behind this is quite specific,” explains Gunewardene. “The already vaccinated street dogs need to stay in an area in order to keep rabies from entering a rabies-free zone.”

According to Gunewardene, killing animals, relocating or putting dogs in shelters are not sustainable solutions in the long term. Dog shelters, for example, need space, food, and manpower, all of which require consistent funding, and also take the responsibility away from the public, encouraging more people to dump animals, while discouraging sterilization. Additionally, contagious diseases and parasites such as ticks are likely to spread rapidly among animals living in such close proximity, resulting in the need for constant medical attention, which again, requires funding. “It requires a huge commitment for it to be done in a manner that ensures the good welfare of the dogs and the people living around these shelters,” says Gunewardene.

With the Government’s spotlight focusing on them, what fate awaits our street pooches?

To his credit though, not only has Minister Faiszer Musthapha stressed that he is looking for a humane solution, but he also does seem to be listening to the suggestions, objections, and recommendations offered by various animal welfare organisations and activists in Sri Lanka. Whether he actually acts on them, however, remains to be seen.

While the year 2015 has seen 24 human deaths due to rabies, it has also amassed a whopping 2,772 deaths due to road accidents, 3,059 to suicide and over 50 deaths due to dengue. All these facts beg the questions: hasn’t the Government got more important issues to focus on? If CNVR has been producing such visibly significant results over the years, why does the Government feel a sudden need to re-evaluate the situation? What is the point of doing a drastic reassessment of a solution which is already working so well, when there are a hundred other issues in the country which are currently in need of attention? Here’s hoping that the authorities make a decision with careful and unbiased consideration of the situation, before creating a problem where there isn’t one.

Ria Rameez

Staff Writer

Sterilization & Vaccination Program - Godagamwela

2018-01-20T12:07:00.000+05:30

Free sterilization and anti-rabies vaccination program was carried out at Godagamwela on 03.01.2018

Owner of the place where field clinic was conducted

What is Spay & Neuter?

2018-01-20T09:38:00.000+05:30

Spaying or neutering refers to a surgical procedure to render a dog or cat unable to produce litters of puppies or kittens. In addition to halting reproduction, other health benefits include the prevention of certain types of cancers and behavioral problems that include roaming, fighting for the attention of a mate and “marking” territory. Chemical sterilization solutions which are injected or eaten do exist for wildlife and are in limited use for cats and dogs.

What actually happens to my dog or cat when she or he is altered?

Spaying refers to an operation in which both ovaries and generally the uterus are removed from the female animal. This operation is normally done through a small incision in the abdomen or the flank. The ovaries produce most of the hormones which make the pet, “come into heat,” and attract male animals, so the spayed female will no longer have estrus cycles or attract males to the home. Neutering the male animal refers to removing both testicles from the scrotum through a small incision.

When should my pet be spayed or neutered?

If your pet is being adopted from a shelter or rescue organization, hopefully it will be altered before going home with you. If your pet is “intact,” meaning not already spayed or neutered, the best time to have the pet altered is before the onset of sexual maturity. In cats this is at four months and in dogs this is usually before five months. Sexual maturity refers to the first time a female dog or cat goes into estrus (heat), or before the male dog or cat starts behavior that is associated with male hormones, including marking their ‘territory,’ a habit which can include urinating on furniture, shrubs and vehicles as well as roaming in search of females and fighting with other male animals.

Many veterinarians recommend that spay or neuter be scheduled to take place shortly after the juvenile wellness vaccinations are completed, meaning spay or neuter is performed at around four to five months, which is before the first estrus cycle.

What are some other benefits of having my pet spayed or neutered?

For female dogs and cats, being altered before the first estrus cycle prevents mammary cancer in over 99% of dogs and over 90% of cats. Mammary cancer is nine times more likely to affect a dog than a person, and dogs are the most common mammals to be victims of this deadly disease. The preventive value of sterilization in terms of mammary cancer is diminished as the number of estrus cycles the pet has increases. Other issues for female animals include prevention of pyometra (an often fatal uterine infection). For free-roaming female dogs the chance of becoming bred by a larger male and being unable to give birth to the puppies is also a threat.

In female dogs and cats, the estrus cycle that attracts males can be everything from annoying to dangerous; packs of male dogs seeking a female dog that is in heat can attack each other or even a person. Female dogs ‘spot’ blood during the estrus as well.

Spay & Neuter Clinic

2018-01-20T07:56:00.001+05:30

Kuliyapitiya

20.01.2018

10.00 am to 4.00 pm

Free of Cost

Sterilization and Vaccination Program-Medalpola

2018-01-20T07:34:00.000+05:30

Sterilization and anti-rabies vaccination program was carried out at community center of Young Buddhist Association Thalahenmulla, Medalpola on 21.12.2017.

Getting ready

Field clinic is being set up by the team members

Butta is happy with a new collar after having rabies vaccination.

Preparation for the surgery

Clerk work with vaccination record books

Collar is put on to a spayed dog

Buddhist monk arrived at field clinic to get his dogs vaccinated

The Cost of Responsibility for a Cat

2018-01-19T23:16:00.001+05:30

Vaccination & Sterilization of Stray Dogs at Hunnelembuwa School.

2018-01-15T08:16:00.000+05:30

Anti-rabies Vaccination & Sterilization program for stray dogs those that have made Hunnelembuwa School, Sunandapura, Hettipola their home, was conducted by the kind request of Ms. Carla Della Maggiora who is a social activist attached to a charity organization named Tsunami Hand Aid based in Switzerland. At the same time, these stray dogs were treated for mange as well as the treatments against parasitic worms, ticks and fleas were provided with the intention of healthy dog population.

It was a great pleasure that Ms. Carla and her team get involved in the advocacy of animal welfare and the ethical and humane treatment of animals at a school located in a remote area in Sri Lanka during their visit to Sri Lanka for a short period of time in last October. These volunteers have helped two little dogs to be spayed, vaccinated against rabies and to receive treatments against mange mites, ticks and fleas. They also have helped foster a better relationship between the school community and these dogs.

Supporting team with a veterinarian arrived to the school on 30th November 2017. Team manager Nirusha and vet assistants Sachith and Sriyangi are at the office of the school before the operation started.

Vet assistants Sachith and Sriyangi are getting friendly with the dogs, Dolly and Daisy.

Sachith got friendly with Dolly.

Dog is brought in to the removal of stitches.

Preparation for neutering. Scrubbed, shaved and ready to begin the surgery.

Receiving treatments for mange.

Immunization against Rabies

Anti rabies booster vaccines were given to Dolly and Daisy.

Dogs were put on collars after rabies vaccination

Getting ready to start the surgery

Surgery in progress. A portions of the reproductive system has been exteriorized.

Closure of the surgical incision.

Cleaning of surgical site following the surgery.

Caring for the dog after surgery- Applying post-operative disinfectants

Surgery completed.

Ready to wake up. Lucy is comfortable after the surgery andprovided her with a quiet place to recover.

Instructions of aftercare following the surgery was given to Ms Sujeewa with all medications and a leaflet with post-operative care instructions for watch out for signs of danger or any postoperative complications.

Ms. Sujeewa who is a mother of a kid that attend this school, was very committed to help us to get arranged this task and to be coordinated with the principal. This kind lady is the one who feeds and looks after these stray dogs at school.

It has to be appreciated that the principal of this school Mr. Lionel Jayathilaka and his staff cooperated well in many ways during this task was achieved.

The Importance of Spaying and Neutering

2018-01-14T20:00:00.000+05:30

Spaying (for female pets) and neutering (for male pets) are safe, standard surgeries that prevent animals from breeding.

Puppies and kittens are clearly adorable, but unplanned litters result in millions of cats, dogs and rabbits being euthanized or living miserable lives as strays. You can help end the animal overpopulation tragedy with one small, but significant action – have your companion animals sterilized with a routine and affordable surgery.

Additionally, there are many behavioral and health benefits in spaying or neutering your pet:

· Eliminate messy heat cycles and resulting male attraction
· Reduce risk of spraying and marking
· Decrease desire to roam (with resulting likelihood of being in fights or auto accidents)
· Reduce risk of mammary tumors
· Ovarian and/or uterine cancer is reduced or eliminated in females
· Eliminate risk of testicular cancer and decreases incidence of prostate diseases of males.
· Decrease aggressive behavior, including dog bites
· Help dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives

There are many other benefits to the people by spaying and neutering community pets:

· Reduce amount of funds needed to rescue, shelter and care for stray, abandoned and unwanted pets
· Reduce danger of transmittable diseases (including rabies), animal bites and attacks
· Reduce property and livestock damage caused by roaming strays
· Reduce the environmental hazard of animal waste