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Sterilization Clinic Operating in Eastern Sir Lanka
Dr. Arniasih and Ketut Artha vaccinate dog
2 February 2005
Nearly 200 dogs and cats have been sterilized and vaccinated in Sri Lanka, during the past week. In an effort to assist the government in controlling the dog population with non-coercive means, the team hopes to make a vast impact on the dog population.
Grant and her team from Indonesia, Bali Street Dogs lead surgeons Rai Arniasih and Komang Sudiati with veterinarian assistants Nana Prayoga and Ketut Artha, joined up with American veterinarian Eric Davis and veterinary technician Llyod Brown of RAV’s to begin the pilot clinics throughout Sri Lanka. Anusha David and Robert Bloomberg have been tirelessly coordinating animal relief efforts in Sri Lanka, since the 26 December event. It has been under their coordination that the team has been able to locate many of the areas in whish there is a need for immediate care.
The first two clinics were set up in Kalutare and Moratuwa provinces south of the capital, Colombo. These areas although not directly affected by the tsunami, have been impacted, through the decline in the economy, and the number of dogs that have fled into their area without owners. Many of the residents in the area were bringing in not only their dogs, but any dogs that might loiter around their houses. The abundance of people that brought in their animals to the field clinic, one woman bringing in 5 cats and two dogs piled into her wheelbarrow, reinforces that the love people have for their animals is shared internationally.
While in Sri Lanka the HSI team has been working continuously with Sri Lankan vets from Pet V Care not only to share their knowledge and experience but have hopes that in the future Sri Lankan vets will continue running their field clinic programs. “We feel that it is essential to integrate the local vets into our program, in order to have full success. Otherwise, who will carry on the work once we are gone” says surgeon Dr. Sudiati. Not only have local vets offered assistance one dog owner, Ishan Ramesh Fernando, who came to have his two dogs sterilized, was so amazed by the whole operation that he offered to volunteer for the upcoming weeks. He has traveled with the team from the Colombo area, east to the small surf town of Aragum Bay.
Aragum Bay, a small beach side town 300km east of Colombo became the place in which the team has decided to base itself out of for the upcoming weeks. Its economy relies upon surfers from around the world, whom travel from afar to surf the legendary breaks. The town has been cut off from the mainland of Sri Lanka, as a result of the main bridge collapsing during the tsunami. With the assistance of the Canadian army the team was able to ferry their provisions and materials to the other side.
Shop owners and hotel workers in the Aragum Bay area were thankful to receive the assistance of the HSI team, in hopes to recover the devastated tourism industry. Many commented on the negative effect that an uncontrolled population of dogs can have on tourism. “The dogs sometimes swarm the area, fighting or copulating. That is not a good environment for tourists”, says Ranthum, the manager of the once pristine Tri Star Hotel. Relief efforts in the eastern areas have been successful with an average of 40 dogs a day passing through the clinic.
Grant being filmed by Discovery
Channel
The HSI field clinic has attracted a lot of attention around the country. The national television station Sirasa along with the newspaper The Sunday Observer covered the happening of the team when they were in the Colombo area. On 30 and 31 January Discovery channel’s Animal Planet came to do a short piece on the team in Aragum Bay, to feature in their tsunami documentary, airing in March.
HSI team assessing livestock
welfare
On 29 January the minister of agriculture, Hon. Aura Dissanayatce came to observe the working of the field clinic along with thanking and congratulating them on their success in maintaining the population. He asked for the assistance of the group in their livestock welfare. Dr. Davis, Grant, and Dr. Sudiati the next morning went to assess the condition and agreed that the cows were very ill, but it is not clear if it is a result of the tsunami, because it is not in the tsunami stricken area. They suggested to the municipal to test the salinity of the water source and do a post mortem on the next cow that dies in the herd to fully understand the implications of the death. Dr. Davis along with Grant agreed to write up a report to assist them in detecting the problems with the cows.
HSI will continue working in Sri Lanka until they feel that their efforts have been successful in stabilizing the dog population. They hope to continue a constant cycle of international veterinarians to assist in the relief efforts. On 8 February, veterinarian Susan Monger and veterinarian technician/ animal trapper Dave Poly will join up with the team. On 10 February, Dr. Eka and Dr. Ade along with dog catcher Gede, the new team from Indonesia’s Bali Street Dog team will also be join forces with HSI in Sri Lanka.
- Piper Grant
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