Adopt a Dog in Sri Lanka neuters 100 dogs:

Second project in Sella Katharagama completed

Adopt a Dog in Sri Lanka hosted their second sterilization camp in Sella Katharagama, following the 100 sterilizations done last November. This year a total of 106 dogs were given the rabies vaccinations while 22 dogs were treated for special cases such as TVT (transmissible venereal tumors), skin rashes, pyometra (accumulation of pus in the uterus), eye conditions and more.

The two day camp was help on March 3 and 4 at Sella Katharagama which was the same locations that the Team held their first camp, to keep with their efforts to effectively cover one area of the country at a time.

Both stray dogs and owned dogs benefited from the camp and all neutered dogs were given red collars and a yoghurt-treat. The strays were ear-notched to be identified in the future and dropped back to the places where they were picked up from. The surgeries were conducted by veterinary surgeons experienced in conducting CNVR (catch, neuter, vaccinate, release) programmes - recognized as the most humane and effective method of controlling stray dog related issues in the country - and assisted by professional medical staff.

Like the previous sterilization programme conducted by ADSL, this one too was funded with the donations of sponsors. The Team takes pride in the transparency with which it handles funds, making all accounts available online for all to see and letting each sponsor know exactly what their donation will be used for. All sponsors are also kept updated every step of the way and are sent copies of bills so they know exactly where their money went.

“There are always people out there who are willing to help, even in a small way. It is with the help of such people that we were able to make this second camp happen,” Adopt a Dog in Sri Lanka Co-Founder Oshadie Korale says, who is currently away from Sri Lanka but still manages to overlook almost all activities of the Group.

The Team was happy to report a very positive response from the people of the locality, stating that they were very helpful and supportive and seemed to now have a much better understanding of the importance of neutering and vaccinating owned and stray dogs. Being one of the excessively dog-populated areas in Sri Lanka, as well as, one that is frequented by a large number of people throughout the year, the free service was welcomed with open arms at Sella Katharagama.

The team intends to host a series of sterilization camps in the more rural areas of Sri Lanka that are full by lots of stray dogs and where people cannot really afford to get the surgeries done. Sella Katharagama was chosen as the first location for this very reason; although there are a number of animal welfare organizations concentrating on main cities like Colombo and suburbs, Kandy, coastal areas and Jaffna, there are still quite a number of that have not been looked into.

Adopt a Dog in Sri Lanka is a non-profit organization that chiefly focuses on re-homing and has to date re-homed over 270 homeless dogs, rescued approximately 40, sterilized over 300 and vaccinated over 400 dogs within the handful of months since they got started.

Operating chiefly through Facebook, the page serves as a meeting ground for foster parents and those who wish to adopt animals to meet, and was founded by three friends: Oshadie Korale, Megali Nanayakkara and Andrew Jebaraj, who are now joined by a number of enthusiastic volunteers of all ages. The group is open to all who wish to support the cause, adopt a pet, volunteer or find homes for homeless animals.

Adopt a Dog in Sri Lanka looks forward to hosting their third sterilization camp in June 2012, where they aim to neuter 200 dogs.