Stray dog vaccination at slow pace: no action from local bodies in 9 districts

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Although it has been weeks since it was decided to vaccinate stray dogs in the state due to increasing attacks and rabies deaths, the local bodies in nine districts have not taken an action. This was decided in a meeting of Local Self Government, Animal Husbandry and Health departments. Not a single dog has been vaccinated in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Idukki, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts. Only 352 stray dogs in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Malappuram districts have been vaccinated in the last one month. Kottayam has given most vaccinations - 264. Thrissur 46, Pathanamthitta 21, Malappuram 20 and Ernakulam 1 are the district wise list.

Like the LSGD, the Animal Husbandry department is also providing the vaccine. The Animal Husbandry department has started this in all districts except Wayanad. 194193 stray dogs were given this vaccine. The department administers the vaccine in rural areas. It is possible in cities only with the help of local bodies. Recently, many people were selected as dog catchers. Even though their training has been completed, the Health department has suggested that they should be assigned to catch dogs only if they have received three doses of the Covid vaccine. The assessment of LSGD is that within next week the three doses of vaccine will be received and then the stray dogs can be provided vaccination effectively.