The 2nd free sterilization/rabies vaccination programme under Kandy’s Humane Stray Dog Control Pilot Project, planned under the leadership of the Governor of the Central Province, will be held at the Dangolla Community Hall on December 16 (tomorrow) 2000 starting at 8:30 am. All healthy dogs over six months of age (both male and female) can be sterilized. The dogs should have been not fed for at least 8 hours prior to surgery and should be brought for surgery on an empty stomach (not even water should have been given). People in the Bowala Ward of the Kandy Municipal Council and others in the vicinity should make the maximum use of this free service for the following reasons:

It is well known that rabies is carried to man mostly by stray dogs. The authorities have to get stray dogs caught/impounded and killed in order to safeguard the people from this deadly disease. Most people condemn the brutal methods used to control stray dogs, but they give scant thought to the fact that people themselves are responsible for this situation as it is they who allow unwanted litters of puppies to be born and thereafter dump these hopeless puppies in public places, thus contributing to the increase of the stray dog population and helping in the spread of rabies. Although the authorities kill around 100,000 stray dogs every year due to the irresponsible behaviour of some pet owners, the stray dog population growth is never reduced; the battle to eradicate rabies (or reduce the incidence of rabies) by killing helpless stray dogs too is never won completely (nor has it been over the past so many years).

This hopeless situation would continue until pet owners practise responsible pet ownership. In other words, people must ensure that unwanted litters of pups are not allowed to be born. The humane way to achieve this is by sterilizing one’s pet dog. Most veterinary surgeons would perform this surgery and people could also make use of the numerous free sterilization clinics organised frequently by various parties concerned about this issue. If pet owners make the maximum use of such sterilization programmes, they are certainly doing a service to themselves and others in their area, because when there is no contribution to the growth of the stray dog population, the incidence of rabies in that area too will be vastly reduced.

A special red collar (valid for the Central Province) will be issued at the above sterilization clinic. This collar is an integral part of the above pilot project. The collar is issued only to rabies-vaccinated dogs. Dogs wearing this collar will not be caught/impounded/killed. By ensuring that the pet dogs wear this collar at all times, the number of dogs cought and impounded or killed in vain will be reduced.