Zero Strays hopes to increase rabies awareness among pet owners, public
MIRI: Zero Strays Miri ( ZSM) is aiming to spread awareness on rabies among the public and pet owners here on how to take precautionary measures for their own safety and that of their pets.
Its president Sterwina Kho in a press statement yesterday said rabies is only spread through the bite of an infected animal.
“However, we have seen many pet owners who do not understand the disease, and there have been several cases where pets are abandoned in fear of the disease. This should not occur as the best way to protect dogs and cats is by getting them vaccinated and keeping them within the house compound,” she said.
She added in view of the risk posed by rabies to the local community, the method undertaken by Miri City Council ( MCC) and the Department of Veterinary Services in dealing with the outbreak is understandable.
“MCC claims its exercise to cull dogs is the most humane and sustainable method to eliminate this disease, which we fully understand, but we also urge the authority to choose immediate blanket vaccination of all dogs rather that indiscriminate culling.”
Indiscriminate mass culling, she reiterated, has proven to be the least effective way to overcome rabies compared to vaccination.
“According to Dr Natasha Lee, a Malaysian veterinarian working with World Animal Protection ( WAP) who has been involved in giving veterinary aid for several rabies outbreaks in Asia, culling alone will not remove the disease unless there is a massive vaccination programme.
“Indiscriminate culling could promote dog movement as other strays will move in to fill the vacuum following culling in an area, and it is not possible to catch all strays. Mass vaccination, as according to Dr Lee, will create herd immunity that will become a wall of immunity which, over a given time, will eliminate rabies,” she said.
Thus, Kho said ZSM wants Sarawakians not to panic but instead take preventive, proactive and precautionary measures in dealing with the situation.
“The best precaution is to vaccinate. Owners must vaccinate their pets against rabies and keep them within the house compound.”
She also reminded owners to monitor their pets and to immediately bring them to the vet if they show signs of sickness such as fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, change in behaviour towards aggression, or marked passiveness, over the span of a few days.
“For those who have been bitten by a dog, they must immediately wash the wound with soap under running water for 15 minutes, and go to hospital to seek treatment.”
ZSM is an animal welfare and a non- profit organisation that aims to control the population of strays through neutering.
Founded in 2013, it has continuously helped to reduce the stray population through the internationallyrecognised Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return/ Rehome ( TNVR) method, as well as alleviate animal suffering by providing medical attention and care for them.
It relies solely on donations from the public to support its causes, services and activities.
For more information and inquiry, Kho can be contacted on 019- 8848000.