The Marwar Animal Protection Trust canine population control and human education program

The Marwar Animal Protection Trust (MAPT) in Jodhpur, India, has participated in the Animal Birth Control (ABC) program since 2004. To this day 76,406 dogs (36,401  females and 40,005 males) have been sterilized and vaccinated for rabies.

Yearly mark-re-sight surveys have shown that the herd immunity achieved is consistently between 85 and 90%. In addition, mark-recapture dog population estimates, virus isolation from brain specimens and serological analysis of pre and post vaccination sera have provided an essential scientific dimension to the program.  

Concurrently, MAPT, supported by the Foundation for Human Rabies Education and Eradication, has conducted an “awareness program” to inform children, in both private and government schools, about rabies transmission and prevention, through informal lectures and distribution of illustrated pamphlets and comic books.

Following each of these informative visits, knowledge of the material presented is assessed by a questionnaire, and a certificate of attendance is issued. A T-Shirt is offered to the best students.
Illiterate children were reached by means of puppet shows showing a dog biting someone in the street. The audience actively interacts with the Puppeteer describing what must be done with reinforcement from his drums. The ultimate incentive is that the message will be brought home to the family environment.

MAPT also participates in “rabies days”, offering free vaccination to owned pet dogs.
In March 2013, 6 urban-suburban districts representing low to high socio-economic areas were surveyed, to collect information on rabies knowledge and attitude, the occurrence of dog bites and their treatment, and historical family experience with rabies.

At the same time, street dogs were counted and their vaccination status recorded.
Of 300 households visited, 93% were of Hindu religion. Pet ownership reached 10% in high income districts, was around 2% in low to medium income areas, and dropped to 1% in commercial/ urban districts. Pets were regularly vaccinated with documentation to prove it, but never sterilized, although few litters were reported.

Awareness of rabies varied between 72% and 95%. Children often referred to the school visits, and one proudly showed his certificate.

Overall, 12.9% of the 1711 residents visited reported a dog bite, and almost all received PEP. Currently PEP consists of four tissue culture vaccine shots, but just two years ago 14 shots with nerve tissue vaccine in belly was most commonly reported.

The wound was sometimes attended to at home in a proper manner, but most often people rushed to a private doctor or a government hospital. No visits to holy men, astrologers or shamans were reported.

Incomplete PEP vaccination was recorded, because some hospitals only pay for three shots (out of the four vaccine and two antibiotic doses required).

In most cases, bites occurred when children were teasing the dog, which sometimes was a neighbor’s pet.
During the household survey only a relatively low number of street dogs were encountered. Between 60 and 93% of these had an ear notch, indicating that they had been sterilized and vaccinated at the   Marwar shelter.

It is noteworthy that survey respondents regard these dogs not as widely roaming, but as having adopted a few streets where they act as guardians of the residents with whom a subtle relationship has evolved.

The household survey provides evidence that the combination of canine population control strategy and education does work in reducing the number of unvaccinated street dogs, reducing the dog population and raising the awareness of people, and their response to rabies exposure.

There have been no human deaths due to rabies in the survey area in the past two years.

Contributed by Baldev Singh, Manager Marwar Animal Protection Trust, Alex Wandeler, Canadian Food Inspection Agency Scientist Emeritus and Martine Jozan Work, Executive Director Foundation for Human Rabies Education and Eradication. [email protected]