DAR is an animal rescue located in Himachal Pradesh, India. The animal rescue won an award for their work from the Global Alliance for Rabies Control and Merck Animal Health. Their Founder was sent to the 3rd Annual Dog Population Management Conference in Mombasa, Kenya. In North India, DAR was ask to speak at the Worlds Rabies Day meeting by the Chief Medical Officer of Kangra, Himachal Pradesh.

The animal shelter’s mission is to make The Himalayas a better place for humans and animals. Their goal is to control population with spaying/neutering, eradicate rabies, conduct successful rescues, find as many forever homes for their dogs, and create education programs.

How?

Stabilize population growth: 90% sterilization must occur to eradicate rabies 70% vaccination must occur. You must work section by section.

Their Surveys and Data

On December 2017 the animal rescue conducted its first population survey using a method based on suggestion by ICAM.

Findings: In Dharamsala Town (Section 25) there are approximately 1000 stray roaming dogs. In the surrounding areas the numbers were inconclusive due the rural setting and varying altitude.

On December 2018 the animal rescue conducted a second survey focusing on the areas outside of Dharamsala town, using a capture – vaccinate – recapture plan based on the Lincoln Peterson Method. Hunter Dowds, a pre-med student from Lawrence University, received a grant to help them vaccinate 347 dogs.

From Jan – Nov 2019 the animal shelter we have sterilized 744 dogs and vaccinated 927 dogs.

The cost of the sterilizations are calculated per weight of the dog:

10kg = rs1000
15kg = rs1500
20kg = rs2000