The biggest charity rabies vaccination drive in Cambodia started in Phnom Penh this week through Mission Rabies, a project of Worldwide Veterinary Service which recently merged with Dogs Trust, and has immunised over 35,000 dogs in the first five days.
With the fear of rabies resulting in an estimated 100 million* dogs killed unnecessarily every year globally, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity is working towards the day when no dogs die of the disease.
Rabies is a viral disease that is fatal to dogs (and all mammals, including humans), secreted in saliva, which attacks the central nervous system, and it is 100% fatal once symptoms appear. It is also however 100% preventable through vaccination. The disease still kills approximately 59,000 humans from dog bites every year, and it is responsible for millions of dogs being killed inhumanely each year because of the fear associated with it.
Dogs Trust hope that by removing the fear of rabies by eliminating human deaths due to the disease, improved attitudes towards all dogs worldwide, including roaming dogs will result.
Luke Gamble, Chief Executive of WVS said: “Rabies is the world’s deadliest disease, resulting in the death of hundreds of thousands of dogs each year and of a child at least every nine minutes. Sadly, where rabies is endemic, dogs are often killed indiscriminately and inhumanely. Vaccinating dogs saves lives – both dogs and human.
“We are committed to powering these ground-breaking projects forwards, championing dogs and people in countries where rabies is rife. Together we can eliminate this devasting disease and this project shows what can be done with determination and focus.”
Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of Dogs Trust who attended the first week of the vaccination drive added: “The project in Phnom Penh is well underway and is part of the goal to eradicate rabies carrying out a mass vaccination of dogs in the region and I’m delighted that we have vaccinated 35,000 dogs so far.
“WVS and Mission Rabies have done an outstanding job on this project, and it’s inspiring to see how it has been delivered on such an impressive scale – there are an estimated 120,000 dogs in the area and 60% of them are owned dogs which shows a level of care people have for them. We hope we can make a real long-lasting difference for dogs and their owners in Cambodia.”
The charities are aiming to vaccinate 100,000 dogs against rabies in just ten days, with 120 project team members made up of employees and volunteers from around the world.
