Regrettably, many dogs, including a large number of Haofas , were killed last year during the first wave of Covid-19 with a fear that they could transmit the virus. This brought down the number of Haofas exponentially.
TFM Ukhrul Correspondent
With the objective to save the dogs, especially Haofa, the indigenous breed of Tangkhul community, anti-rabies vaccination was carried out at Phungcham and its two hamlets Paorei and Varangalai on Tuesday. A total of 80 haofas were vaccinated. The dog owners could be seen waiting for their dogs to be vaccinated at their village ground.
Former Executive Member of ADC-Ukhrul, Paothing Vashum had borne the expenses of procuring and delivering the vaccines to Phungcham and its two hamlet villages. Paothing Vashum asserted that “Haofa is part and parcel of our identity, and protecting them should be a priority.”
Regrettably, many dogs, including a large number of Haofas, were killed last year during the first wave of Covid-19 with a fear that they could transmit the virus. This brought down the number of Haofas exponentially.
The Deputy Comissioner of Ukhrul on August 18, 2021 had issued an order directing dog owners to “compulsorily vaccinate their dogs with anti-rabies vaccine and to restrain their dogs from free movement outside their respective residence.” This orders followed after the death of one person in Ukhrul on August 16, 2021 from rabies infection after she was bitten by a dog.
Chairman of Phungcham Village Development Council Ngathingkhui Horam expressed gratitude to Paothing Vashum for his timely help in procuring the much needed anti-rabies vaccine. “Had we not got the vaccine on time, many of us could have lost our dogs to the rabies virus or killed them out of panic,” he added. He also expressed gratitude to the Veterinary Officer of ADC-Ukhrul, Dr. L. Hemba Singh for supervising the vaccination.
Veterinary Department of ADC-Ukhrul has been carrying out anti-rabies vaccination at Ukhrul Headquarters. Dog owners from Ukhrul Headquarters and nearby villages could be seen coming for vaccination. Dr L Hemba Singh informed that around 450 dogs have been vaccinated till date in Ukhrul Headquarters alone.
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