Vaccination and treatment campaign for Aranayaka community animals
Embark has reported that 2,354 dogs have been vaccinated and 293 treated for
injuries and ailments in Aranayaka in partnership with the Best Care Animal
Hospital after the landslides that devastated the area in May this year.
Vaccination and treatment campaign
As rebuilding began after the disaster, Embark responded to requests from the
community and carried out a comprehensive vaccination and treatment campaign for
companion animals in the landslide affected areas. The Brigitte Bardot
Foundation funded the program and contributed to the costs of hospitalisation
and treatment for the animals rescued from the flood affected areas.
 “Our work in Aranayaka is an excellent example of the role Embark can play in
working with communities to improve conditions for owned and roaming dogs, and
spread the message of compassion and care,” said, Head of Operations at Embark,
Ashani Gopallawa. “We were happy to provide the needed support to this
community. It had seen so much destruction and faced great adversity but the
people we met had smiles on their faces, and were thankful that help came, not
only for them but for their faithful companions at their time of need.”
The affected areas in which the Embark program was carried out included the
Gevilapitiya and Ussapitiya PHI areas. “The assistance received from the Kegalle
Regional Director of Health Services Vijith Gunasekara, the Kegalle Rabies
Public Health Inspector A.M.S.S.K Weerasinghe, the Aranayaka PHI J Mohamed Anas
and the Aranayaka Medical Officer of Health Dr.Gemunu Wickramasinghe was much
appreciated by both Embark and Best Care,” Gopallawa said.
“I am grateful that Embark reached out to us. Everything went according to plan
and they were able to cover a wide area within a short period. When I spoke to
the people in the area, they mentioned that not only did the dogs receive
vaccinations and treatment, the community received advice on looking after their
dogs, which was really helpful.
The team was efficient and the dogs were caught with nets without causing any
harm to them. All in all, it was a really great support in our time of need,”
the Public Health Inspector of Aranayaka J Mohamed Anas said.
Stories of a dog digging through the mud in search of his guardians spread
during the devastating landslides in Aranayaka.
The disaster left over 100 people dead and resulted in the displacement of 554
families. Whilst relief and rescue efforts were carried out, the people of
Aranayaka also reached out to animal rescue organisations for assistance in
finding and treating community animals that were injured.
When the mudslides began amid heavy rains, animals were unable or unwilling to
escape and chose to wait for their guardians rather than running to safety.
These animals remained and dug through the mud, sometimes in vain. During
disasters, animals, be they owned, street or community animals remain largely
forgotten.
Response
The people of Aranayaka responded differently despite the enormous odds they
were coming to terms with. They reacted enthusiastically to the care given to
their four-legged friends, putting aside their work for the day and bringing
their community cats and dogs for vaccinations and treatment.
Embark along with the program’s partners has been transforming the lives of
street dogs and communities like Aranayaka since 2007. The organisation works in
rescue and treatment, rehoming, sterilisation and vaccination and education in
relation to Sri Lanka’s street dogs. The organisation can be contacted via
[email protected] or on 0773429025 for street dog welfare related issues.
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