‘No cull’ assurance given over vaccinated, neutered dogs – SSPCA

KUCHING: Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ( SSPCA) has received assurance that all stray dogs that have been vaccinated and neutered will not be culled.

Its president Datin Dona Drury-Wee said the assurance was given by State Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah during a recent meeting with local non- governmental organisations.

“We have reminded the authorities to protect the street dogs that have already been vaccinated and neutered, as these are the ‘immune soldiers’ on the streets that will keep out dogs with ‘unknown status’, meaning those without an owner or no known history of vaccination,” she said.

Uggah, who is deputy chief minister, gave the assurance in a meeting with SSPCA and Save Our Strays ( SOS) that any dog with a double- collar that comes under SOS’ capture- neuter-vaccinatereturn (CNVR) programme would be handed over to the group.

“These dogs are what we call the CNVR dogs. We are working with the government to get different collars with serial numbers to properly identify these dogs,” Wee explained.

She said SSPCA and SOS are working around the clock to help the government reach out to the public.

“SSPCA and SOS went on rounds with MBKS ( Kuching South City Council) and the Ministry of Local Government and Housing to help to educate owners whose dogs were caught roaming freely.

“We reminded the owners that according to council by-laws and Section 37 of the Veterinary Public Health Ordinance, dogs must not roam freely and the owners can be subject to a hefty fine per dog,” she said.

Wee was glad to note even though not all of Sarawak has been affected by rabies, the government has already conducted free vaccinations for dogs in Sibu and Miri in order to create immunity amongst dogs there.

“This ( creating immunity) is exactly what should be done and we are happy that they (Sarawak government) have vaccinated close to 80,000 dogs already,” she said referring to the mass rabies vaccination programme currently being carried out.

She also said as part of efforts to spread awareness of rabies and on the need to vaccinate pets, SSPCA and the Local Government and Housing Ministry conducted house- to- house visits, starting in Batu Kawah.

“This ( house- to- house visit) is another approach that can be taken, but it requires a lot more manpower and more veterinarians to go to each house to check. This is what DVS ( Department of Veterinary Services) has been doing in villages in Serian.”

Wee pointed out a more aggressive animal birth control programme is needed as a longterm solution to address the stray population in the state, such as a neutering programme for pet owners from lower-income groups to reduce the number of unwanted and unvaccinated animals that are dumped in the streets.

She added that SSPCA has also proposed that the Sarawak government set up a low- cost neutering clinic, something which she believes is being seriously considered.

“We hope it can materialise soon. We all want to achieve a city that is free of strays and freeroaming dogs and cats, but it will take time to change the mindset of the authorities and also the pet owners themselves.

“In some countries it is compulsory to have your pets neutered unless you are a registered breeder. This is something that we have also brought up to the authorities.”