Dr Zoë in India

By Zoe Levesque | Dated May 5, 2026

As part of the management strategies for the ever-growing stray dog problem in India, our very own Dr Zoë recently travelled to Kochi, India as a volunteer in a spey and neuter program.

India is home to a large population of semi-owned and stray dogs. This population of dogs contribute to the spread of rabies and other transmissible diseases as well as hinder the human-canine bond through aggressive behaviours. The most effective management strategies for stray dog populations are ABC (Animal Birth Control) programs – these programs slow the growth of dog populations and reduce the number of cases of rabies in children and adults. Dr Zoë was able to volunteer through Worldwide Veterinary Services and help spay and neuter many dogs at Animal Rescue Kochi in Kerala. The shelter workers would go out to capture dogs on the street, which the vet team then anaesthetised and spayed or neutered. The dogs were also vaccinated against rabies while under anaesthesia. The dogs were released back into their territories a few days after surgery.

Wordwide Veterinary Services is a UK-based charity that provides veterinary services to underfunded areas globally, including India, Thailand, Malawi, and many more. They are incremental in helping the control of Rabies across the globe through their vaccination programs of dogs. They also provide further training for local vets and vets from around the world to improve their surgical skills. If you wish to donate to their amazing cause, please follow this link.

Animal Rescue Kochi is non-for-profit shelter caring for the dogs and cats of the Kochi area, who were able to host Zoë and the other Worldwide Veterinary Services volunteers. If you wish to donate to this honourable organisation, please follow this link.

When Zoë wasn’t in surgery, she was able to visit the surrounding areas; visiting the Fort Kochi area, going to the Biennal Art Festival, seeing a Kathakali show and drinking tea in the tea fields of Munnar.