Embark tackles rabies in communities in Sri Lanka

In March 2012, Embark,a community and animal welfare project based in Sri Lanka celebrated 5 years of commitment to providing a better life for street dogs in Sri Lanka. Embark is the creation of Otara Gunawardane, founder and CEO of ODEL, a fashion store.

The project gives primary attention to stray dogs and focuses on rabies management, minimizing the stray dog population (through the Catch, Neuter, Vaccinate and Release (CNVR) method recommended by the World Health Organization), reducing the abuse many stray dogs have to cope with and educating and creating awareness about animal welfare among the public. It provides free anti rabies vaccinations,sterilization surgeries, puppy re-homing campaigns, and cares for injured street animals and special needs dogs. Community education on responsible pet ownership, rabies eradication, dog bite prevention and animal welfare are administered by Embark to eradicate negative attitudes and misconceptions which prevail among the public about stray animals.

A main source of funding for Embark is through part of the proceeds from the sale of clothing and accessories bearing the Embark label at 15 ODEL stores in Sri Lanka.

Since the inception of Embark in2007 the project has being involved in the lives of 20,000 homeless dogs.Celebrating the 5th anniversary Embark declared that it had conducted a total of 5,925 sterilisations and 9,351 vaccinations, treated 3,437 injured animals and found homes for 613 street dogs. Embark has also conducted 16 education and awareness programmes and five fund raising projects in its first five years.

Embark’s main project on Humane Dog Population and Rabies Management was launched in 2011 in Maharagama, Sri Lanka.The project is a three year campaign which strives to eliminate rabies from Maharagama, one of the Colombo suburbs. This project is carried out in collaboration with a veterinary service provider, and has had the support of government officials from public health and health departments since its commencement.

The aim of the project is to sterilise 80% of female dog population and to vaccinate 80% of the dog population in the Maharagama area within three years. Embark hopes to administer 35,000 + vaccinations and 5,000 + female dog sterilisations in the Maharagama suburban area by the end of the project. Since the inception of the project Embark has been able to facilitate vaccinations of 2,117 dogs and sterilisations of 271 female dogs. The campaign also educates primary and secondary school students on bite prevention, rabies and responsible pet ownership and to date has reached out to 483 students in the area.

The community of Maharagama cooperates with the project as they have understood the importance of rabies management. They are appreciative as they are aware that Embark works with the government officials. The community is not charged for the vaccinations and sterilisations of owned and street dogs.

The locations of the clinics are announced prior to the day of the clinic to inform the public. On the day ofthe clinic it is encouraging to see people streaming in with their dogs and some with street dogs from their areas to be vaccinated and sterilised. The educational programmes for the primary and secondary level students, conducted by experienced veterinary surgeons through interactive presentations, are being accepted well.

The community is appreciative since they understand it is not an ad- hoc programme but a long- term, sustainable programme which would reduce the street dog population and also create a safe environment.

ODEL’s commitment to community animals through theEmbark programme won international acclaim in 2011 at Animals Asia WelfareAwards 2011. ODEL was the only corporate entity to receive an award at this event.

Submitted by Upekha Daniel and Ashani Unamboowe of Embark. There is more information available on their website, www.embark.lk. You can see and order the clothing range that helps to funds their workhere.