Every year, our global veterinary teams perform thousands of spay/neuter surgeries to reduce the suffering caused by overpopulation. Last year alone, our vets performed over 33,000 sterilisation surgeries, contributing to our mission of improving the lives of animals and their communities.
A key part of this work includes conducting research and surveys to gives us a better understanding of the dog population in a given area, local perceptions, and welfare concerns – helping us to deliver interventions as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Keep reading to hear all about our recent WVS Veterinary Taskforce project on St Martin's Island in Bangladesh, delivered in partnership with Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of Bangladesh, Department of Livestock Services, and Obhoyaronno Bangladesh Animal Welfare Foundation.
Dog population surveys
In January 2025, our Dog Population team conducted surveys on the beautiful St. Martin’s Island, a haven for wildlife and one of the protected coral islands in the Bay of Bengal. The location was chosen due to conflicts between people, dogs, and wildlife on the island, as well as the need for improved animal welfare.
The objectives of the surveys were to estimate the number and health of the dogs living on the island, their regional densities, the proportion sterilised, and to understand the community’s perceptions of the dogs.
The team travelled across the island by foot and by bike, and sighted dogs were marked with animal-friendly crayon.
We used the WVS Data Collection App to map island boundaries and survey routes, and the team received hands-on training to record and understand the collected data. We estimated there to be 3,386 dogs on the island, with only 27% having been sterilised. Qualitative surveys were conducted by the Obhoyaronno team to understand the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the people living on the island, which was collated and presented at a plenary session organised by the Ministry.
During the surveys, we also helped animals in need of urgent assistance. This included treating a puppy with a deep neck wound caused by some nylon fishing net material.
The surveys provided valuable insights into the island’s dog population, allowing the team to move onto the second phase of the programme.
Sterilisation outreach
During April 2025, the WVS and Obhoyaronno teams worked together to conduct the first phase of sterilisations on the island, with the key objectives being to:
Stabilise the island’s dog population
Reduce human-dog conflict
Improve the welfare of island dogs
Protect the ecosystem with a special focus on the endangered olive ridley turtle population
Clinical sections were set up utilising the resources available on the island, giving us a preparation room, operation theatre, medicine stock room, as well as pre-operative and post-operative kennel rooms. All rooms used during the campaign were repurposed cottages from an existing resort on the Island.
Custom-designed vehicles were fabricated to transport the dogs to the clinic and then return them back to the location they were found. Electric rickshaws, commonly used for commercial load transport on the island, were repurposed with a metal caged enclosure to safely hold around six to seven dogs during transport.
The majority of dogs were released on the same day of surgery, after recovery from their general anaesthesia and eating a delicious, home-cooked meal. All dogs were also microchipped and had a token number for easy identification throughout the process.
On completion of the campaign, the team conducted an island-wide post intervention survey to assess the impact of the sterilisation efforts. Eight teams from WVS and Obhoyaronno travelled on survey routes to cover all zones across the island, and recorded dog sightings with GPS locations on the WVS Data Collection App. Post-operative checks were also conducted.
During the project, which ran from 10th-27th April, a total of 601 dogs were sterilised and vaccinated. The follow-up survey showed a significant increase in dog sterilisation coverage, from 27% in January 2025 to 65% in April 2025.
In addition, the campaign was an excellent opportunity to deliver expert veterinary care to animals in need of assistance, with the team treating maggot infested wounds, tumours, umbilical hernias, mange and parasite infestations, as well as giving deworming treatment for several puppies.
During the sterilisation campaign, a barb was extracted from a dog’s cheek caused by scavenging on a washed up spotted porcupinefish.
And it wasn’t just dogs that benefitted from the campaign, as much-needed treatments were also provided to several cows and goats.
This project has been a huge step towards creating a healthier, happier, and more stable animal population on the island. We would like to express our gratitude to the people of St Martin's Island, our project partners, the dedicated team on the ground, and everyone who has helped to make this campaign possible as we work to create a brighter future for animals globally. Thank you!
You can help us provide care for more animals
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