SPCA International awards grants to vaccinate 12,000 animals against rabies

To recognize World Rabies Day this September 28th, SPCA International (SPCAI) has donated $33,000 in grants to 9 organizations in support of rabies vaccinations for dogs in Borneo, Tanzania, Pakistan, Cuba, and India. The funds will provide more than 12,000 rabies vaccinations to animals worldwide.¹

Photo courtes of SPCAI.

Photo courtes of SPCAI.

“We’re proud to play a part in World Rabies Day 2023 and the global movement to eliminate rabies,” said Lori Kalef, director of programs at SPCA International, in an organizational release.¹ “Vaccinating dogs and cats against rabies saves the lives of people and their pets. We applaud our grantees who continue the critical frontline work to eradicate this disease and keep animals safe.”

Though rabies is 100% preventable through vaccination, it remains a prevalent threat to humans and animals, particularly in under-resourced areas. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that nearly 60,000 people die each year from rabies² and according to the World Health Organization,³ dogs contribute up to 99% of all rabies transmissions to humans.

In some areas, dogs are inhumanely culled to help reduce the spread of rabies, although mass vaccination still is the most effective and humane method for helping to eliminate this disease.⁴

Individual SPCAI grants were gifted to: International Aid for the Protection & Welfare of Animals (IAPWA), Lake Zone Animal Welfare Organization (LZAWO), Lucky Animal Protection Shelters (LAPS), Operation Git-Meow, Stray Animal Foundation of India, Tanzania Animal Welfare Society (TAWESO), Tanzania Animals Protection Organization (TAPO), Tanzania Humane Charity - TAHUCHA, and Voluntary Education and Relief Initiative for Tanzanian Society - VERITAS.¹

World Rabies Day was initiated in 2007 and strives to raise awareness about this deadly disease and help eliminate it around the world. This year’s theme is “All for 1, One Health for All,” which focuses on a collaborative approach to achieve the “Zero by 30” goal to reduce rabies deaths in humans to zero by 2030.²

References

1. SPCA International Awards $33,000 in grants to support global rabies vaccination efforts in honor of World Rabies Day. News release. SPCA International. September 28, 2023. Accessed September 28, 2023.
2. Rabies prevention behind the scenes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/worldrabiesday/feature/index.html
3. Rabies. World Health Organization. September 20, 2023. Accesed September 28, 2023. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rabies
4. Morters MK, Restif O, Hampson K, Cleaveland S, Wood JL, Conlan AJ. Evidence-based control of canine rabies: a critical review of population density reduction. J Anim Ecol. 2013 Jan;82(1):6-14. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2012.02033.x