Team Herald
MARGAO: Mission Rabies is underway in Margao and around 5,000 stray dogs have been vaccinated in the mission that commenced on October 23.
After completing the area under Margao Municipal limits, the campaign will cover neighbouring Navelim and Seraulim panchayat areas.
Mission Rabies targets stray dogs, where trained volunteers trap the dogs with the help of a net and then vaccinate it. In Margao presently there are six teams working and from next calendar year the campaign will cover the remaining panchayats of Salcete talukas.
Mission Rabies commenced vaccination of stray dogs in Goa in 2014 and since September 2015 are partners with the Government of Goa to help eradicate rabies in Goa.
According to Goa Project Manager Julie Corfmat last year altogether 51,294 dogs were vaccinated all over Goa and this year as on date around 58,000 dogs have been vaccinated. They have covered the talukas of Tiswadi, Ponda, Dharbandora, Sanguem, Canacona, Pernem, Quepem, Bicholim and Salcete.
Mission Rabies has 12 vaccination teams working all over Goa with six of them in Salcete. Next month three teams will work in Bicholim while two teams each will work in Sattari and Mormugao. After completing Sattari and Mormugao talukas the teams will move to Margao next year where the remaining panchayat areas will be covered.
Each team is led by a veterinarian and has at least four dog catchers. Besides, one person is assigned the task of marking the vaccinated dogs and one van driver.
