Efforts by the Phuket Provincial Livesotck Office (PPLO) to inoculate stray dogs against rabies have earned a new Japanese ally. The Animal Clinic of Japan visited the Phuket Shelter for Stray Dogs in Suanpha Bangkannoon, Talang on April 26 to bring food and medicine to animals there, joining the PPLO's campaign to make Phuket a rabies-free zone. They brought 10kg of food for dogs and cats and a gift of $5,000.
PPLO Chief Sunart Wongchavalit explained that his office and the subdistrict administrative organizations on Phuket have rallied together around the rabies-free campaign to offer free vaccinations and sterilizations for dogs and cats. In addition, veterinarians from the Livestock Office have been going door-to-door on Phuket to register and vaccinate family pets. Phuket animal lovers may contact the Phuket Health Station Group (PHSG) or the PPLO for times and locations of vaccination clinics. The PHSG may be contacted at 0-7621-7330, the PPLO at 0-7621-6934.
The animal survey aims to identify locations on Phuket where animals have not been vaccinated against rabies--ultimately to reduce the number of incidents of dog bites on locals and tourists. Stray dogs are caught and confined at the Phuket Shelter in Talang. The PPLO and the Thachatchai police station currently coordinate to insure that dogs arriving at the checkpoint from outside Phuket have identifying microchips holding certification that the animals have been vaccinated against rabies.
The Ministry of Public Health passed a law on Jan. 25 of this year giving dog owners 4 months to register their pets. Part of the measure requires all dogs coming into Phuket to have identification and vaccination certification. Owners who then abandon dogs will face fines.
Khun Sunart said that the Phuket Shelter supports about 500 dogs with a budget drawn from the Maikao Subdistrict Administration Organization. Still, he said, the shelter doesn't have enough food and medicine. That deficit inspired the Animal Clinic of Japan to send help to Phuket.
The PPLO accelerated vaccination efforts during the dry season as a nationwide effort targeted the summer season for rabies prevention. The project has been funded by the Ministry of the Interior, provincial administrative organizations, subdistrict administrative organizations, municipalities and Affen Thailand, maker of Pedigree animal feeds. Affen Thailand donated 5,400 baht to the PPLO in July 2007.