Wellbeing for all

Friday, 8 October 2010 22:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Embark completes 16-week dog sterilization campaign in Moratuwa

Embark, the unique ODEL brand which leverages the latest fashion trends to promote animal welfare as a community responsibility initiative, concluded its latest sterilization and vaccination campaign for dogs in the Moratuwa area recently.

During the four stages of the campaign conducted over a 16 week period, 1846 dogs were sterilized and vaccinated, 282 dogs were vaccinated and 600 dogs were given special treatments for mange, wounds, transmissible venereal tumours, heavy tick and worm infestations, eye infections, diarrhoea, anaemia and generalised weaknesses, the organisers said.

“Programmes such as these entail a substantial commitment of time and energy by many people,” said Otara Gunawardene, founder and CEO of ODEL and the founder of Embark. “The results speak for themselves: a safer and healthier environment has been achieved in areas where Embark has been active, and many community dogs have been found homes or become better-accepted in the community.”

Moratuwa Mayor Samanlal Fernando said: “The commitment and professionalism of the Embark team was an inspiration to everybody who collaborated on this project. The people of Moratuwa are grateful to Embark and ODEL for the hard work put in to help manage the community dog population in their neighbourhoods in a humane and sustainable manner.”

Since its inception, Embark has provided homes for nearly 200 community dogs and has sterilized and vaccinated 4781 dogs. Another 1577 dogs have been vaccinated and 909 dogs have been treated for various injuries and ailments.

The Tsunami Animal People Alliance, the Moratuwa Municipal Council and the Dog Star Foundation worked together with Embark on the campaign in Moratuwa.

Launched in March 2007 to improve the welfare and reduce the population of community dogs, the Embark programme comprises of multifaceted interactive community projects encompassing puppy re-homing, public awareness campaigns, sterilization clinics and caring for injured stray animals.

Information on Embark and the programme’s calendar of activities, can be found on www.embark.lk