Committee to look into amending dog licensing, control by-laws — Tiang
SIBU: The State Public Health Committee (SPHC) will look into amending the existing Local Authorities (Dog Licensing and Control) By-Laws 2018 to deal with errant pet owners who continue to let their dogs out to roam, despite being repeatedly reminded against it.
Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government II Michael Tiang said the details of such law and effective enforcement must be looked into.
He was met by reporters after performing the closing ceremony for the two-day ‘Jelajah Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat’ (ANMS) 2022 for Sibu Division at Wisma Sanyan here yesterday, where Sibu Resident Wong Hee Sieng and Sibu Health officer Dr Teh Jo Hun were also present.
“I just chaired the SPHC’s quarterly meeting in July. We have to let our legal team look into how to amend the existing by-laws and whether it (amendment) can be enforced.
“With their proposals, we would then table it in SPHC’s next quarterly meeting,” he said.
Tiang also regarded education as being important in emphasising the danger of letting pets roam free, in view of Sibu recording the highest number of rabies cases in Sarawak.
“Every dog owner must take the responsibility to keep their pets within their house compounds to avoid infection of rabies from other dogs,” stressed the Pelawan assemblyman.
On Monday, a six-year-old girl at Taman Satria, Jalan Ulu Oya here sustained serious facial injuries after she was attacked by a suspected rabid dog while playing in front of her house.
Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak director Dr Adrian Susin Ambud said the dog, which had died, exhibited symptoms indicative of rabies and the samples taken had been sent to the state veterinary diagnostic laboratory.