Stray animal welfare gets a boost from Rotary Club

The Rotary Club of Kullu has donated a large smart television to ‘Manali Strays’, an organisation based in Haripur near Manali that works for the welfare and sterilisation of stray dogs. Additional District Magistrate Ashwani Kumar handed over the television to organisation respresentatives.

‘’Manali Strays’ in-charge Kamlesh said over the past decade, they had been tirelessly working to control the rising population of stray dogs in Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti districts. “Hundreds of stray dogs have been sterilised and later released back in their areas after proper vaccination and medical treatment done with the help of local veterinary centres,” they added. Kamlesh was accompanied by Sahil Anand and district’s Senior Veterinary Officer Dr Shakuntla Vaid.

Students pursuing veterinary studies from various institutions, including the All India Veterinary Students Welfare Association operating under the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu, and other veterinary colleges in the country have done internship with “Manali Strays”.

Rotary Club president Pooja Malik appreciated the organisation’s commendable efforts and said that the club had always been at the forefront of supporting such noble causes and community-oriented activities undertaken by both administration and welfare organisations.

The club’s founder and general secretary, Dr PD Lal, said that individuals or organisations willing to contribute to the sterilisation of stray dogs could do so through the Rotary Club. He added that “Manali Strays” was the only organisation in the region that undertakes such work and the cost for sterilisation per dog was Rs 2,500.

Through collaboration between civic bodies and welfare organisations, initiatives like “Manali Strays” continue to play a vital role in promoting humane treatment, population control and the overall well-being of stray animals in Himachal Pradesh.