Tuesday 9 November 2010

Did you know?

Dogs Trust is the largest dog charity in the UK, but also assists overseas through international work. One of the latest projects to receive help from Dogs Trust is a new International Training Centre (ITC) set up by the charity, Worldwide Veterinary Service.



Watch the video to find out more information about WVS and the ITC.

WVS, a charity founded by Dorest vet, Luke Gamble, is run from a small office at the back of a second-hand book shop in Cranborne on the edge of the New Forest. The charity provides aid and assistance to animal charities and non-profit organisations around the world.

The opening of the ITC marked World Rabies Day (Tuesday 28th September), an international campaign that has led to the vaccination of three million dogs since 2007.

The ITC, which WVS has set up with the India Project for Animals and Nature, has received sponsorship and expertise from Dogs Trust and will cut the number of young lives lost through a mass dog vaccination programme.

India has the highest prevalence of rabies in the world. On average, 30,000 people a year die from being bitten by a rabid dog and 60 per cent of those bitten are children under the age of 15.

Through widespread vaccination campaigns and working with the Indian Government, WVS has pledged to reduce the number of deaths by five per cent over the next three years – the equivalent of a child’s life every day.

Luke, who has recently appeared in TV series Vet Adventures, said:

"For around the cost of a pint of beer each month you could help save a child’s life. It’s as simple and stark as that. It costs just £3 a month or £30 a year to become a member of WVS and every person who signs up makes a difference to the many animals and communities we help.

“Rabies is one of the oldest diseases known to man. Yet today it is still needlessly killing tens of thousands of people across the world every year. These deaths are preventable with a simple vaccination. Children are more likely to get bitten or scratched on their heads and faces, which carries a higher risk of contracting the disease. They may also be unaware of the dangers and consequently not tell their parents when they have been bitten, scratched or licked by an infected dog. We can help save their lives with your help.”

For further details on WVS, please visit www.wvs.org.uk


2 comments:

Geraldine A Phelan said...

It is so fantastic and heartening to see you great unselfish vets and colleagues do all this marvellous work to help our fellow living beings. Keep up the good work :-)

Geraldine A Phelan said...

It is so fantastic and heartening to see you great unselfish vets and colleagues do all this marvellous work to help our fellow living beings. Keep up the good work :-)