The WVS (Worldwide Veterinary Service) has set up a scheme called "Mission Rabies", Rabies is deadly but preventable, and WVS are running mass canine vaccination programmes across India.
Dog bites cause almost all cases of Rabies in humans. Prior to "Mission Rabies" dogs were being killed by local people who were afraid of them because of the disease.
So far the scheme is working well; the team vaccinate thousands of dogs a week. Combined with a spay/neuter programme, there is so much hope....not only for the dogs' survival, but for the human population too.
Their website:
http://www.missionrabies.com/
and the You Tube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8WGIPCvWWg#t=121
(be aware that there are a couple of upsetting scenes at the beginning of this film.)
This is incredible. They could actually eradicate rabies. With the mass neuterings of dogs they could actually cut the stray population right down.
Talk about hope for the future, this is wonderful. Instead of panicking and killing strays, they are actually doing something that will have a long term good effect and it is humane.
I feel good just reading about this program. Maybe some day every stray will have a home and there will be no more rabies deaths.
We, as a family, have always been rabies aware. We don't have it in Britain but it is only a few miles across the channel to Europe, where it is found.
My Dad was a Sea Pilot (ie he guided ships from all over the world into a local deep water port) and often came face to face with pets on board. Most crew were very protective of their animals and made sure they were suitably contained when in port, but one of my Dad's colleagues had a scary experience. He was on board a Russian registered ship which had just docked and as he walked along a corridor to make his way on deck to go ashore he heard the patter of feet behind him. He turned to see what he thought was a big dog walking towards him, but it stood up on it's hind legs and was very clearly a big black bear.
They eyed each other for a few seconds and then the bear dropped back to all fours, turned around and ambled back from whence he came.
The ship's compliment were sternly warned that all animals must contained, but no mention was made of the bear!!
It's very encouraging to see that efforts are being made to prevent rabies rather than deal with it when it has occurred.
Can you imagine what it would be like if rabies were eliminated.
There are still rabies deaths every year. It is a horrible way to die. I would love to see it stopped.
It would change the quarantine situation if there was no danger of rabies. I can imagine what it was like to go on the ships like that. A bear would be the last thing he would expect to see.
I was bitten by a squirrel years ago. It was a very strange acting squirrel and it came at me and bit my hand. Even though up till now there have been no cases of Squirrel rabies, I couldn't take a chance.
I had to catch him and have him tested for rabies. Luckily the results were negative.
I wish them every success fighting rabies.