Health Ministry also says it’s recommeding a zero-stray dog policy in all rabies areas. ZAHRATULHAYAT MAT ARIF and NUR AQIDAH AZIZI write
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“IF you can’t take care of your dog, don’t own one.”
Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye directed these words to owners who refused to get their dogs vaccinated and later dumped them when they fell sick.
He added that their failure to look after the welfare of their dogs is unbecoming.
“I don’t think the price of the vaccine is an issue. I believe the amount they pay to feed the dog in one year is much more than the RM100 to get it vaccinated. To me, they are just being irresponsible.”
“Ownership and love come with responsibility. You can’t say you love your dog, but are not willing to be a responsible owner,” he added.
Dr Lee said dog owners should ensure that their animals are vaccinated and do not roam around, to prevent the spread of rabies infection.
He added that rabies is a serious disease and the fatality rate is almost 100 per cent.
The Health Ministry is recommending a zero-stray dog policy in all rabies-gazetted areas to control the disease.
“The policy does not mean that the ministry encourages the killing of wild dogs as there are procedures to be followed.
“We want to make sure the owners take care of their dogs and do not let them roam around.
If no one is taking care of the dogs, there must be a non-governmental organisation to adopt them, failing which, the dogs will be put to sleep,” he added.
Dr Lee said Malaysia would not be the first country to implement the zero-stray dog policy as the Netherlands and Japan had done it.
“If we visit these countries, we hardly see stray dogs roaming around. The dogs are always with their owners.
“Before we implement this policy, we must have procedures in place. This means making sure the dogs have no owners,” he said.
Dr Lee added that dogs must be monitored for signs of rabies for two weeks before they were given away for adoption.
“If there are no signs of infection after two weeks, the NGO may continue taking care of the dog and get it vaccinated once a year,” he said.
On whether the policy should be implemented in areas where there were no rabies infection, Dr Lee said that was beyond the
Health Ministry’s jurisis diction.
“When there no infectious disease, it is not up to the Health Ministry to decide whether to implement this policy or not. That depends on the Veterinary Services Department and the local authority. They will decide whether to implement it or not.”
PIC BY L. MANIMARAN By Nur Aqidah Azizi
SEREMBAN: The Negri Sembilan government plans to relocate all stray dogs in the state to a special site in Kuala Sawah Rantau, here.Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said the site which in under construction, is part of the state government’s plans to address the growing number of wild and stray dogs.“All stray and wild dogs caught by the local authorities will be put temporarily at the site before we can proceed with the necessary procedures. At the moment, safety and cleanliness issues are still being sorted out and the site is expected to open this year.”He added that in the meantime, a special patrol team from the local authorities would be deployed in various locations to monitor areas with a high number of stray dogs. “These teams will be on duty every night, to keep an eye on the hotspot areas, especially at high population density locations,” he added.Aminuddin said the issue of wild and stray dogs was a serious one, as they posed a danger to the public.“One bite from a rabies-infected dog can be fatal.“However, we are trying to implement a plan that will be fair to all. It is regarded as inhumane to simply kill wild dogs without going through the proper procedures,” he said, adding that the animals had been seeking shelter inside abandoned buildings and premises.Meanwhile, state Urban Wellbeing, Housing, Local Government and New Village chairman Teo Kok Seong said the setting up of the animal shelter in Kuala Sawah, Rantau — with the help of non-governmental organisations — is one way of tackling the issue of the growing number of wild dogs in the district.“Previously, it had always been an issue for the Seremban and Nilai Municipal Council when it came to the disposal of wild dogs.“With this collaboration, all stray and wild dogs will be sent to the centre before they are given vaccination and confined in the area. The animals will be well taken care of before the public are allowed to buy them as pets.”He said that only certain dogs, which were seriously ill would be disposed of following standard More than five dogs can be seen at any one time in Jalan Gurdrawa, Buntong. operating procedures (SOPs) that would not torture the animals.Teo said certain dogs which were no longer suitable as pets were now being retrained to be guard dogs at factories.“These dogs are retrained to help guard the factories. It seems that the demand for them is growing,” he added.Recently, it was reported that residents in Taman Lavender Height, here, were shocked to find remains of three dogs, including a pet dog, inside a drain. Initial reports claimed that they were poisoned.
Dr Lee Boon Chye