All TNVR dogs to be returned to communities where they were found
KUCHING: Save Our Strays Kuching Association ( SOS Kuching) has received an assurance that stray dogs with double collars, which indicates that they have been trapped, neutered, vaccinated and released (TNVR), caught during the targeted strays removal operation by council, will be handed back to the communities where they were found.
SOS Kuching, in a press statement yesterday, said that several agreements and understanding had been reached during a meeting on Aug 31 with various government agencies and stakeholders.
The group acknowledged that non-governmental organisations ( NGOs) present in the meeting have been informed that the targeted removal of strays operation by Kuching South City Council ( MBKS) for one month starting Sept 1, would go ahead without further concession.
Through compromise, SOS Kuching said that it had been agreed that their representatives were permitted to accompany the council’s dog catchers during the operations.
“Any TNVRed dogs caught by the team will be taken in by SOS. These dogs will be quarantined at SOS’ premises and given rabies booster jabs by SOS’ panel vets,” the statement said.
SOS said many TNVRed dogs had received booster jabs in June this year.
“These dogs will be given new SOS ID ribbon collars, and will be returned to their respective communities one month after receiving their booster jabs.
“SOS will quarantine and monitor new TNVRed dogs in their premises for six months, and thereafter returned these dogs to their respective locations where they were found,” it added.
SOS was also informed that any dog owner who hinders the council from catching their pets roaming freely outside would be issued with strict warnings and fines meted out on the spot before their pets could be returned to them.
“All parties have agreed to fix another meeting to be held in the near future to discuss outstanding matters particularly in regards to collaboration amongst government agencies and NGOs to implement TNVR for strays and free roamers,” it said.
SOS believes that only by achieving mass dog vaccination of at least 70 per cent coverage within a community and implementing dog population management via spay and neutering for both strays and pets are the most effective and humane method to curb the spread of rabies.
SOS desires to achieve a winwin situation for both human and animals.