Municipal authorities of Ludhiana will soon be providing free vaccines to stray and registered pet dogs to make the city rabies-free. The proposal was approved by the members of the Finance and Contracts Committee. Further, the Animal Husbandry Department has come forward and will be helping the municipal corporation to organize special vaccination camps starting firstly in the walled localities. The vaccine drive was initiated after the officials detected rabies in the post-mortem of three stray dogs last year.
Officials said the camps can be organized in the veterinary clinics in different areas. All stray dogs will be included in the campaign, and registered pets will also be given free vaccinations. The registration program was started by the civic body last year, and currently, more than 2,000 pets have been registered. Rupees 400 per pet will be charged by the municipal corporation for the registration of pets.
Mayor Balkar Sandhu said, “We have given consent for the free vaccination to keep people safe from rabies, as there is no cure for this disease.” The F&CC has also approved the appointment of two more veterinarians for stray animals. The civic body will also give exemption in the pet registration fees to physically challenged owners and dog lovers who are taking care of stray animals.
MC senior veterinary officer Dr. Harbans Dhalla said, “There are six veterinary hospitals of animal husbandry department in the city including those at Haibowal dairy complex, Barewal, Dhandari Kalan, Tajpur road dairy complex and Gill road. We are in talks with the animal husbandry department so that camps can be organized in the city. While residents will bring their registered pets to these camps, MC will depute a team of dog catchers to vaccinate stray dogs in these areas.”
“There is no cure for the disease once someone gets infected. Over 18,000 deaths are reported in the country every year. After we found three stray dogs infected with rabies last year, it was decided to start a drive to make the city 'rabies-free', as the disease poses danger to the lives of residents if an infected dog bites them,” said Dr. Dhalla while adding that the MC will soon float tenders for procuring the vaccine.
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