Capture on sight without exception
All free-roaming, stray dogs to be removed in operation against rabies in Kuching
KUCHING: Any stray or freeroaming dogs sighted will be targeted for removal in the coming Kuching District Anti- Rabies Operation, which will run from April 22 to May 3.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said there will be no exception because granting any exemption would only backfire in the fight to eradicate the deadly disease.
Speaking after chairing a meeting on a rabies outbreak management programme here yesterday, he said the fear is that there would be request after request for exemption which would render the rabies fight an exercise in futility, thus continuing to put Sarawak and its people at risk.
Replying to a request made during the meeting to exempt socalled community dogs (neutered and vaccinated but ownerless), the State Disaster Management Committee chairman stressed the government had a very critical responsibility to carry out.
“The fi ght is against rabies. It is not against pet dogs. We have to remove the strays and get more pets vaccinated. During the coming operation, those dogs that are kept within the owners’ house
The fight is against rabies. It is not against pet dogs. We have to remove the strays and get more pets vaccinated. Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, Deputy Chief Minister
compound will not be affected,” he said.
The meeting yesterday was attended by Sarawak Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ( SSPCA) led by president Datin Dona Drury-Wee, and Save our Strays ( SOS) Kuching led by president Kitty Chin.
Also attending were Tabuan Tranqui lity Neighbourhood Committee vice chairman Dean Kuan and Green Heights and Borneo Garden Neighbourhood Committee secretary Andrew Tsen.
On fears expressed by members of the public over the presence of army personnel with their M16 rifles, Uggah assured they were only there to provide security as part of the operation’s standard operating procedure.
“They are there not to shoot the dogs with their M16s. So far, not a single bullet has been fi red. Turn to page 5, Col 4