A dog being sterilised

Like in Thimphu, the increasing dog population in Phuentsholing town is a major concern and strays canines move freely between the Indian border town of Jaigaon and Phuentsholing.

“Because of the porous border it is difficult to estimate the number of dogs in Phuentsholing,” said Pema Dorji, the district livestock officer of Chukha dzongkhag. Livestock officials estimated the combined canine population to be around 1,500 in Phuentsholing and Pasakha.

Many Phuentsholing residents believe that the vaccination campaign in Phuentsholing may not be of much help if a similar endeavour is not exercised across the border. “Dogs in Phuentsholing and Jaigaon are very mobile,” said Tshering Penjor, a Phuentsholing resident.

Pema Dorji told Kuensel that the mobility of animals along the porous border was also a concern in light of many animal diseases like the foot and mouth disease (FMD).

To encourage people to bring in the strays for vaccination, the livestock officials are paying Nu. 30 for every stray caught.

Pema Khandu, a class five student of Phuentsholing lower secondary school, caught eleven strays in three days.

A Phuentsholing resident told Kuensel that the campaign had created some awareness among pet owners to vaccinate their pets once a year. “Dog owners here rarely vaccinate their pets,” he said.

The vaccination campaign is scheduled to continue up to March 20 with two teams of livestock officials taking up the exercise.

The campaign in Gedu under Chukha began on March 6 and is scheduled to continue for a week to vaccinate the estimated dog population of about 1200.

Yesterday the campaign moved to Ramitey. From there it will move to Pasakha Kamji, Chukha, Tsimalakha and Chapcha.

Vaccination campaigns have been completed in Samtse and is on-going in Trashigang, Samdrup Jongkhar and Thimphu.