SSPCA wants LAs to conduct surveys on dogs in their areas

KUCHING: The Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) is hoping that all local authorities especially town councils along the Kalimantan borders and those in larger populated centres would conduct house-to-house surveys on the number of dogs in their areas.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, SSPCA president Datin Dona Drury-Wee commented that if Sarawak is to control or end the rabies outbreak, everyone has got to play a role.

Doing house-to-house surveys on the number of dogs is important because agencies, especially the international agencies, require some data on the number of dogs if they were to look at the rabies cases and areas at risk.

The data is for budgetary purposes and more importantly so that those working to contain the outbreak can know if they have vaccinated 70 per cent of the dog population.

“Any number below 70 per cent will not be effective. Having 70 per cent of the animal population vaccinated will ensure that the virus can be contained in a certain area,” she added.

So far the state government have started to create a buffer zone by vaccinating at the 10th Mile area where some 1,500 dogs have been vaccinated.

She revealed that the SSPCA might get experts from outside the country to help locals in the mass vaccination efforts by the state government.

“SSPCA has been in contact with our international counterparts who are experts in rabies control and elimination. For example, we are very happy to have with us here this week Dr Andrea Britton who is a nonexecutive director of Vets Beyond Borders (VBB) from Australia,” said Wee.

VBB focuses on educating local communities on the prevention and control of zoonotic disease like rabies and have vaccinated over 50,000 dogs, cats and other animals against the virus.

Meanwhile during the press conference, Wee commented that SSPCA was hoping that no one politicise the issue of the government conducting mass vaccination following the rabies outbreak in the state.

This is because the society thinks that the state government is doing its best to ensure a constant supply of vaccine for humans (pre and post exposure) is available, as well as for dogs especially in outbreak areas.

Also present at the press conference were Dr Andrea, SSPCA chairperson Rebecca D’Cruz and local councillor Patrick Song.