We started the morning bright and early for our first day of vaccinating and met our team leaders and team. I’m on the Buffalo team! Beth is on the Python team, and Shelley is with the Tigers. Each group is led by a Mission Rabies employee and local, and the teams include a veterinarian or veterinary nurse and 4-5 net catchers who are all locals. Each group piled into a Mission Rabies truck and took off for our vaccination zones.

We stopped early in the morning for breakfast at a “hotel” where we enjoyed delicious Indian cuisine. We let the locals order for us so we could try the best dishes. One of the best has been samosas, which are fried pastries with a savory filling of spiced potatoes and onions.

After breakfast, we were back on the streets, using our map to track our location to ensure we cover the entire zone. We use the Mission Rabies app to record data about the dogs we vaccinate, including sex, stray vs owned, approximate age, and if intact, neutered, or spayed. If the dog has an owner, we record their contact information and provide them with a vaccination card.

After a mid-day break from the heat, all of the volunteers and Mission Rabies team members enjoyed lunch together at a local restaurant (more delicious food). We then headed out for our final round of the day to try to cover as much of the zone as possible before the sun sets at 6:30 pm. By this time, most of the children are done with school for the day and are eager to help our teams locate the dogs. They always know where the puppies are hiding! The kids also get very excited for the Mission Rabies bracelets we hand out. Then we head back to our hotel; it’s shower, dinner, and early to sleep to start all over the next day.

The locals in Margao have been so warm and welcoming and regularly thank the team members for the work we are doing.

We walked about 10 miles our first day. I get so excited every time I see a cat (or a kitten!), even though we are only vaccinating dogs. For the first day, our teams vaccinated a total of 693 dogs!

Watch for updates on social media, and be sure to check for updates at cliniciansbrief.com/mission-rabies. —Jackie Ramage

Jackie is the Human Resources Director at Brief Media.