100% vaccination rate through community database and NGO partnership
Our colony has 6 street dogs that everyone feeds but nobody takes responsibility for their health. Last year, a dog bit a child → ₹15,000 rabies treatment, family traumatized. Residents wanted dogs removed, but I knew sterilization + vaccination would solve the problem humanely. We needed a systematic approach, not just reacting to incidents.
Created a comprehensive database of all colony dogs with photos and locations. Partnered with RESQ animal welfare NGO who provides FREE vaccination and sterilization camps. Mobilized community volunteers, coordinated a camp day, got all 6 dogs vaccinated and 4 sterilized. Established monthly monitoring system. Result: 100% vaccination rate, zero dog bites in 8 months, population stabilized, community now protective of 'our dogs.'
from one rabies scare to community action: March 2024 - neighborhood kid bitten by street dog. dog wasn't vaccinated. ₹15,000 rabies treatment. family traumatized. found out: BMC provides FREE vaccination camps for street dogs but nobody organizes them in our area. learned about ABC program (Animal Birth Control + Anti-Rabies). coordinated with Blue Cross and BMC. organized first camp: 23 dogs vaccinated, sterilized, ear-notched (blue marking = vaccinated!). set up WhatsApp group with 45 residents to track dogs, report new ones, schedule camps. 6 months: 67 dogs covered in our locality. ZERO rabies cases. ZERO dog bites from vaccinated dogs. but best part? kids now play outside fearlessly. elderly people walk without worry. turned one scare into systematic community health initiative. one student can change neighborhood safety. public health = everyone's responsibility. 🐕💉
Photos, locations, health records for all colony dogs
FREE vaccination & sterilization through RESQ collaboration
8 volunteers trained in safe dog handling and health monitoring
Monthly checks, annual revaccination, track new dogs
Used ethology observation techniques: walked colony at feeding times (6 AM, 7 PM) when dogs most active. Photographed each dog from multiple angles for ID. Noted territory boundaries (Gate 1 dog vs Gate 2 dog). Estimated ages, temperament (friendly/shy/aggressive).
Identified high-risk areas: near school gate, park where kids play. Priority: vaccinate dogs in these zones first. Also noted which dogs are pregnant or nursing (handle carefully, don't sterilize until puppies weaned).
Convinced Society Secretary by showing cost analysis: prevention (₹0 with NGO) vs rabies treatment (₹15k per incident). Got buy-in from dog feeders by explaining sterilization is humane (prevents starvation deaths of excess puppies).
Trained 3 younger kids (ages 10-12) to take over monitoring when I go to college. Created simple Google Sheets tracker they can update monthly. Established relationship with NGO for annual camps. Built a system, not just a one-time project.
Every great project starts with a personal problem. What's yours?
Get Started