NGO praises Sarawak’s anti-rabies efforts, wants pet owners to be more proactive
KUCHING: Non- governmental organisation Petpositive is calling on all pet owners to be more proactive in combating the rabies epidemic in Sarawak.
The Kuala Lumpur-based NGO said though it is saddened by the more than one dozen human rabies fatalities in the state to- date, the tireless efforts of the authorities, namely the Department of Veterinary Services ( DVS) and local councils, to bring an end to the epidemic deserve recognition.
“However, we realise that all their good efforts cannot be successful quick enough until dog and cat owners themselves start taking responsibility for their pets. These responsibilities include promptly vaccinating their dogs against rabies, and to never let them roam free outside of the compound of their homes,” said Petpositive president Anthony Thanasayan.
The NGO also praised the Sarawak Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) for working closely with DVS and the local councils on the crisis.
“This is great because no one’s voice is louder or stronger to dog lovers everywhere than from NGOs which have been set up and dedicated to speak up about animal welfare and rights.
“When animal NGOs team up in one voice, coupled with animal experts like veterinarians in the DVS, they become more responsible and effective in arming dog lovers with all the right and accurate information on what needs to be done in order to put a stop to the rabies menace,” Anthony said.
He stressed that animal welfare NGOs in Peninsular Malaysia should seize the opportunity to educate pet owners on not only responsible pet ownership, but also on diseases like rabies.
“It should also educate us about the unique and sometimes dangerous tasks that professional bodies like the DVS and local councils have to confront in order to maintain a safe, healthy and conducive environment for everybody to live in,” he added.
According to him, the current rabies outbreak should also help everyone understand the indispensable role of local council dog- catchers and the vector departments.
“Those with sentimental and romantic ideas on the issue of stray- dog management are lucky that they do not have to risk their lives with their armchair opinions and voices.
“What they should really do is to arm themselves with real facts instead of having empty emotions that are baseless and doesn’t help in a real life active rabies situation.
“These include the role of euthanasia which takes away the horrendous suffering for dogs during rabies which is incurable to both animals and humans when it is full-blown.”
No dogs belong in any of our Malaysian streets. To catch them, ‘ fix’ them and re- dump them in our streets is insane and cruel, said Anthony.
He added that to go on feeding stray dogs without finding a real and loving home for each one of them with a responsible family is to be even more mean, as it forces the strays to forage for their own food, denies them access to veterinary care and makes them unsuspecting victims of poisoning and roadkill. Anthony can be reached at 012-2203146.