Control movement of pets in rabies-infected areas – Councillor

MIRI: The authorities concerned must take all stringent measures in the adoption of pets and taking out of pet animals from one place to another in this division, especially from rabies-infected areas.

Kampung Long Miri in Telang Usan is one of such places having been declared as rabies infected area in Sarawak.

“There are many people who originally came from Long Miri in Telang Usan living here (Miri), and it is a common practice for them to bring dogs from there to Miri and vice versa, as pets. They might not be aware that the animals are rabies-carriers, said Cr Dominic Nyurang when met Friday.

He thus proposed that strict measures must be imposed on the adoption and bringing out of animals from Telang Usan to the city, and vice versa, especially from rabies infected areas here like Piasau Jaya, Shell Lutong, Miri Airport and Shin Yang Plywood in Kuala Baram.

Dominic, who is also Telang Usan PBB Youth chairman, said the people might not be aware that their dogs are rabiespositive. He also suggested that a dialogue session be held to create awareness and educate the people about the danger of the deadly disease.

“Most dogs roam freely in the interior villages, and also between villages. You hardly see a dog on leash or placed in cages. The spread of deadly diseases is therefore greater. Also, most dogs in the villages are hunting dogs and there is always the possibility of the dogs being infected when they came into contact with wild animals, such as monkeys,” he said.