Trap, Neuter and Release commonly known as “TNR” – is one of many solutions to animal over population and overall health for feral cats here in Indiana and the United States. But what about abroad and what about dogs?
One central Indiana veterinarian assistant is on a mission to find out. Brittney Sanford, an 18-year-old Vet Assistant at the Hamilton County Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic, will be traveling over 5,000 miles to the Ukraine with the Clean Future Funds Organization to help the dogs of Chernobyl and see how TNR is affectively being implemented in this area of the world.
Animal overpopulation is an issue in many regions of the world and for many different reasons, in this case it’s due to one of the world’s worst manmade disasters ever to occur – the meltdown of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986. Subsequently, residents’ pets were abandoned in the following days mandatory evacuations of the nearby towns. The animals that survived the radiation and military culling attempts were forced to learn how to survive on their own. Over 30 years later, many of the dogs living there are the direct descendants of these pets left behind. These dogs inhabit the grounds of the power plant and the areas outside known as the exclusion zone. The Clean Future Fund Organization has traveled to Chernobyl for the last three years and has TNR’d over 800 of the more than 1,000 dogs who live in this common day wasteland surrounding the Chernobyl Plant.
Photo provided
Sanford graduated from the J. Everett Light Veterinarian Technician Program in 2018 and jumped right in to her career.
“I wanted to become a veterinarian assistant because I’ve always wanted to help animals, and make sure they’re not in pain and well cared for,” said Sanford.
On this trip Sanford, will be assigned to the catching team that’s tasked with securing the stray animals that live in the exclusion zone and transporting them to the onsite clinic near the power plant. The dogs will be spayed or neutered, given vaccinations and medically evaluated. She and her team will then monitor the animals in recovery and make sure they get released back into the same area and original packs they were living in to avoid the animals being territorial and fighting.
With the efforts of one young Hoosier, joining a team assembled from professionals all over the world, the dogs of Chernobyl will get much needed medical treatment and live healthier lives; thus, creating a safer environment for everyone working and living in Chernobyl and the nearby towns.
“I am so excited to have the opportunity to go to Chernobyl,” said Sanford. “I’m most excited to get hands on and learn new skills and better develop current skills. I look forward to meeting new people, making connections and helping the dogs and cats of Chernobyl.”
If you’re interested in learning more about the dogs of Chernobyl and how you can help, check out the Clear Future Funds website or the Facebook page.