The sight of puppies and kittens is always a pleasant one. Watching them nibble on our toes and scamper away as fast as their tiny paws can carry them is one of the lesser known joys of life. But this dream often turns into a nightmare as we watch them grow up only to suffer and be mistreated by a world that they did not choose to be born into, to begin with.
“The last three and a half weeks saw 508 animal birth control surgeries for pets in the constituency of Curtorim and nearby. This included pet dogs and cats and community animals as well,” began veterinarian Dr Karletta Fernandes from Worldwide Vertinary Services (WVS) in Goa.
A collaborative initiative by WVS, Saco Animal Welfare Organisation, Mission Rabbies, Animal Welfare Trust and the Reginald Trust Initiative, the sterilisation programme was held from February 19 to March 15, 2024 with the main focus being sterilisation and vaccinations for animals.
March 16 saw the closing function that felicitated 60 volunteers and residents from the community that came forward to help catch the animals and look after them.
“The last programme took place in the village of Bicholim in the months of January and February and saw a pleasant visit from Curtorim MLA, Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco who travelled to Bicholim to witness the camp firsthand because he wished to do well for the animals in his constituency," she said.
And further explained, "He offered us a space in the building beside the football ground where we set up a temporary clinic and all the necessary amenities,”
As for the most recent sterilisation programme at Curtorim, there were no difficulties as such, and if any problems cropped up, they were taken care of with the help of all the volunteers and villagers that came to help.
“The dogs are their friends, no?” Fernandes asked and smiled. Right from kids who were delighted to be of help, to senior citizens who walked along with their animals for more than a mile to get them vaccinated – true love and companionship saw no bounds at the animal camp.
“It was very heartwarming to see that they care about their pets so much that they came walking all the way for a vaccination,” she said.
Right from animal feeders to shop owners and others, the only designation that they wore that week was of a ‘dog lover’ that was helping in getting their ‘friends’ vaccinated.
The waiting list builds on as we speak with over 600 people waiting for free sterilization and vaccination drives.
“We hope that Curtorim will be an example of how we need to organise more of these animal welfare camps. The goal is to control the animal population on the street for the simple reason that it is sad to see homeless animals and neutering them is one way to solve the problem,” concludes Dr Karletta.
