Animal helpline with ambulance services in Odisha from October

Odisha government has decided to start an animal helpline with ambulance services, for the first time in the state. Official sources said the service will start in the urban areas of Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur in October.

The ambulances will have necessary medical equipment like surgical instruments, sterilizer, animal lifting and standing support instruments for treatment of animals suffering from diseases or injured in accidents.

“In most of the accident cases, it becomes difficult to identify the cattle owners and the injured livestock remain unattended and uncared for followed by unnatural death. Animal ambulance will provide emergency veterinary assistance to stray animals like dogs, cows and bulls,” said Bishnpada Sethi, Secretary of State Fisheries and Animal Resources Development (FARD).

He said services will be provided to sick animals such as pet dogs or small ruminants for their lifting and transportation to the nearest head quarter hospital only on a phone call to the helpline number. “We will charge user fees at the prevailing rate for pets,” Sethi added.

The ambulance unit will remain in service in two shifts in a day. “Provision of free first aid treatment with life-saving drugs on the spot will be made available for stray and abandoned animals. Mobility will be provided to sick animals for their lifting and transportation to the nearest headquarter hospital only on a phone call,” he said.

So now when you see an ill and injured animal left unattended on the road, it is time not to turn your face away in pity, but to make a call.

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