Shelter for stray animals to be built in Bashtanka

A shelter for stray animals is to be built in Bashtanka. A land plot has already been identified for its location.

The decision was made at an extraordinary session of the city council, according to NikVesti.

The deputies noted that the problem of stray animals in the community is getting worse every year, so there is no time to wait and something must be done.

City Council member Viktor Maidanov also said that a meeting had already been held with representatives of the NGO «Four Paws» and an investor who is ready to finance the construction of the shelter. The city council is required to provide a land plot and utilities.

The councillors supported the creation of the shelter and agreed to allocate about 2 hectares of land. This area will be used to build enclosures for 120-150 animals.

The session also suggested that the issues of power and water supply to the future shelter, as well as fencing, should be resolved in advance. The necessary expenses should be included in the community budget.

In addition, the deputies will send a request to the responsible services to control the number of stray animals in the Bashtanka community and the use of funds for sterilisation.

Serhii Shevchenko added that the problem is already affecting the safety of the townspeople: in just 11 months, Bashtanka Hospital has received a number of people who have been bitten by dogs and other animals. He also said that recently a stray dog had bitten a gymnasium student on her way home.

Situation with rabies vaccine in Mykolaiv region

Earlier it was reported that as of 11 November, hospitals in Mykolaiv region had 760 doses of rabies vaccine available for patients seeking help after being bitten by animals.

At the same time, Inna Yatsenko, head of the immunoprophylaxis department at the regional Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, recently stated that the region does not have enough vaccine to fully ensure that all those who apply for vaccinations are given them. According to her, the region has not received another shipment of vaccine, so it is impossible to fully cover the need.

Also, at a briefing on 20 November, the head of the health department of the Mykolaiv City Council, Iryna Shamrai, said that Mykolaiv region was at epidemic risk due to the rapid spread of rabies, and that the city's pharmacies currently lacked the vaccine.

On 25 November, it became known that 26,000 doses of anti-rabies vaccine had been delivered to Ukraine as humanitarian aid from the World Health Organization.