4K dogs vaccinated in Patiala in September

Under the ongoing Rabies Free Patiala mission launched on September 1, over 4,000 community or stray dogs have been vaccinated. Around 20,000 vaccinations will be carried out in the next four months.

The drive is one-of-its-kind initiative in Punjab, dedicated to making Patiala the state’s first rabies-free district, said Pankaj Arora, president of the Guardians of All Voiceless Animals, on the eve of World Rabies Day.

He said the worldwide veterinary services group, (WVS) HOPE, the MC and local NGOs – Guardians of All Voiceless Animals and Compassion for Animal Welfare Association (CAWA) — had joined hands to carry out the dog vaccination mission.

The campaign will continue as part of the National Rabies Elimination Drive, focusing on large-scale vaccination of canines and raising awareness within communities.

Each vaccinated dog is tracked through the WVS app, which records details of every dog along with GPS location, ensuring systematic coverage, reliable monitoring and robust data on both vaccination and dog population trends, said Pankaj.

Alongside the vaccination drive, the education officers of the organisation are spreading awareness on bite prevention and the vital steps to be taken in case of bite.

This pioneering project aims not only to protect both humans and animals but also to work towards the larger vision of eradicating rabies from Patiala.