Behind the very complex and multi-faceted matter of overpopulation of free-roaming dogs, two major causes can be identified. Firstly, the availability of surgical training for veterinarians and secondly, the accessibility of spay/neuter surgery services for dog owners. Especially for those living in small towns and villages. And especially for those whose dogs are often allowed to roam free.

Responsible dog ownership means that owners have the responsibility to take care that their dogs are annually vaccinated against rabies and surgically sterilized to prevent unwanted pregnancies (ABC Rules 2023). However, owners can only be expected to have their dogs vaccinated and sterilized if these services are actually available, accessible and affordable for them.

Development of veterinary surgery skills is a key, but we also need to find ways to encourage veterinarians to keep spaying dogs, including owned dogs, to prevent unwanted pregnancies and improve the efficiency of canine rabies control programs.

We first introduced “access to vet care” – concept in India in 2023, through a series of outreach spay/neuter clinics, lectures and webinars implemented as part of WVS India activities. Access to vet care highlights the need to understand the existing barriers for affordable and accessible veterinary care, and the implications that lack of access to vet care has for animal health and welfare, especially in the context of humane dog population management and rabies control.

Firmly rooted in many decades of experience in the NGO/animal charity field, we are now exploring the opportunities that private sector can bring in to bridge the gap in availability of essential veterinary services, especially in the field of humane dog population management and veterinary capacity building.