Save Our Strays calls for better collaboration in fight against rabies

KUCHING: Save Our Strays Association (SOS) Kuching would like to clarify concerns in light of recent press releases by the Department of Veterinary Service, Sarawak (DVS) and the Public Health team regarding the current rabies issue.

On June 27, SOS visited DVS office and was informed by an officer that DVS did not receive any TNVR PVC collared dogs caught by Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) on June 26 from Mile 10, Jalan Penrissen.

However, in a joint press statement by DVS and Public Health Team on July 12, it was stated that TNVR PVC collared dogs tested positive for rabies.

“As a non-governmental organisation, we are equally concerned for the safety and health of the community and animals. We strongly request DVS and MPP to provide us the information so that we can monitor and improve our TNVR programmes. Information required are dates of TNVR PVC collared dogs captured; location where these dogs were captured; how many TNVR PVC collared dogs were captured and tested; and how many TNVR PVC collared dogs were tested positive for rabies,” said SOS Kuching president Chin Yiu.

“We work closely with community feeders to carry out the TNVR programmes for the strays. Besides feeding them, these community feeders will also monitor their health closely and will inform SOS should the dogs fall sick or injured. Community feeders are well aware of the dogs’ health and temperament, hence any changes in their behaviour will be detected immediately by the respective feeders. Meanwhile we have started to carry out the rabies booster jabs for these TNVR dogs to vaccinate them against rabies for the second year.”

Since the outbreak of rabies from July last year, SOS Kuching has sought and offered to collaborate with the authorities to eliminate rabies. The availability of these information from DVS will assist the association greatly in vaccinating the strays against rabies, said Chin.