In July, Vetinwild set out to Kalama Community Conservancy in Samburu East to vaccinate domestic dogs and cats against lethal diseases.
The main aim of the vaccination drive was to enhance public health and protect endangered wildlife species at the conservancy, such as the African Wild Dog from contracting rabies whose main reservoir host is the domestic dog.
Rabies is one of the lethal diseases that affects both humans and wildlife. By vaccinating more than 70% of domestic dogs, the disease can easily be eliminated.
Vetinwild works to prevent the spread of such diseases in communities and at the domestic animal-wildlife interface.
WeWe have seen a lot of success and good will from communities, who continue to grow more supportive of this initiative, as they seeing a reduction of rabies cases since we started this programme. . Vetinwild Founder Dr. Stephen Chege
A total of 695 dogs were vaccinated over the four-day vaccination drive, which included creating awareness among the community members on domestic dog and cat welfare and how to prevent zoonotic diseases that are passed by domestic dogs and cats.
The success of the exercise was courtesy of collaborative efforts with volunteers from Ewaso Lions, Animal Care Centre, Action for Cheetahs, Grevys Zebra Trust, Save The Elephants, Kalama Community Conservancy, the County Government of Samburu and the host community.