Pets are part of the family in the majority of households worldwide. In Nigeria, pets like dog are a major companion and it is kept for various reasons ranging from security, breeding business and sports.
Among these reasons, security has gained more ground in recent time due to high incidence of insurgence and security challenges in the neighborhoods.
However, it is sad to note that dogs are one of the carriers of diseases like rabies, one of the oldest infectious diseases known to human race, and it is still a disease of public health importance, a study titled: “Assessment of knowledge and practice of vaccination of dogs against rabies by dog owners in Makurdi, Benue state, Nigeria,” reveals.
The study also states that human rabies is responsible for about 60,000 human deaths annually and most of these deaths are in rural communities in Africa and Asia with nearly half of the victims been children under the age of 15 years.
The unfortunate thing is that many of these lives can be saved if bite victims and health-care providers know what to do and have what they need, a Veterinary doctor, Dr. Temitope Wright tells me.
The Veterinary Council of Nigeria has 9,000 registered members, but only 3,500 are actively practising veterinarians. The rest are in different professions or no longer in the country.
We need more people to be trained in the profession, Wright says, adding that, being a Veterinarian is very lucrative in Nigeria.
For one to become a Veterinary doctor, Wright says, he must attain a certificate from the university. “You must go to school. It is a five year course at the university, after which, you must do a one year Industrial Training (IT) at a reputable Veterinary hospital or clinic.
“Once you graduate from the university, you will be given a certificate to enable you practice as a Veterinary doctor. To gain more experience, you have to go to a Veterinary clinic, afterwards, you can start practicing as a vet doctor,” he explains.
Opening a pet shop
However, there is room for those who want to venture into the business, but don’t have a degree, the Veterinary doctor states,, adding that, one do not need to go to university or any school to own a pet shop.
As long as he/she has the financial muscle to rent a shop at a good location, stock the pet shop with all the necessary pet products and toys, register the business with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and veterinary services, then he/she is good to go, he reveals.
