Providing a free dipping facility which alternates weekly between two local venues, Caledonia Butchery and the Mukadota Chigayo (a local mill, tuckshop and beer hall) the dip days have now been absorbed into the rhythm of life here, with anything from 50 to 250 dogs coming in for dipping every Saturday morning. This has helped to reduce the incidence of BILIARY (a tick-borne disease that still kills many dogs) and protects them from bont ticks, innocuous looking little brown ticks with yellow stripey legs that can cause months of excruciating pain, necrotic sores, paralysis and in extreme cases death
The Triatix used in the dip also conditions the dogs' skin and helps to heal the mange and other painful skin conditions that are so prevalent out here but, over and above this, these regular gatherings also give us the opportunity to de-worm and monitor the dogs that come in, deal with minor issues and take the more serious ones into Harare for veterinary attention.
