About 212 animals have been sterilized by the Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development’s Veterinary Services in Douglas recently.
The campaign is part of government’s efforts to deliver and speed up services to various community across the province, especially those who were denied primary animal health services in the past. Or rather have to walk long distances to access primary animal health services.
The Department held a four day spaying and neutering campaign in Douglas in the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality. Spaying (ovario-hysterectomy) is the surgical removal of reproductive organs (ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes) of the female animal. 
While Neutering is the surgical removal of the reproductive glands (testes of the male animal). Males and females should be spayed or neutered by when six months of age, while older animals can be done as long as they are in good health.
In males, neutering reduces problems with territorial and sexual aggression, inappropriate urination (spraying) and other undesirable male behaviours.
In females, spaying decreases the incidence of developing a serious and potentially fatal infection of the uterus experienced by many mature un-spayed animals.
The surgery also eliminates the heat cycle and associated mood swings and undesirable behaviour, messy spotting (in dogs) and the attraction of males to your yard. The services to the community came in handy as if it was in the private veterinary clinic they would have paid about R160 000 should they have been charged for the sterilizations.
Due to the size of the spay campaign in Douglas, the Compulsory Community Services (CCS) veterinarians from the Free State Province were invited to assist in the campaign. The “CCS” programme offers the newly qualified veterinarians the opportunity to render their much needed services to rural areas and gain valuable experience and knowledge under the supervision of the qualified Veterinary Doctor.
The Department is pulling all stops to make sure that the far flung areas of the Northern Cape are been visited. Through the assistance of “CCS” in the province more campaigns are planned where communities will benefit from the service provided by government free of charge.
Enquiries: Phemelo Manankong - External Communications Officer
Tel: 053 802 5622
Cell: 071 889 5112
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www.agrinc.gov.za