by DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 13: Four rabies-positive cases were detected in areas within Kuching and Bau between March 3 to 7, Kuching South City Council (MBKS) reported.
All four cases involved bite incidents, with three stray dogs and one free-roaming pet testing positive for rabies.
In the Bau area, a stray dog from Jalan Bau Lama and a free-roaming pet from Pekan Paku were confirmed to be rabies-positive.
Within the Kuching area, two stray dogs from Kampung Nyabut, Telaga Air, and Kampung Surih Stapok, off Jalan Batu Kawa, were tested positive for rabies.
Pet owners are reminded to vaccinate, license, and microchip their pets to help the council achieve its goal of eradicating rabies from the community.
Failure to obtain a dog license is an offence, and pet owners may be fined up to RM5,000 Section 3 of the Local Authorities (Dog Licensing and Control) By-laws, 2018. Pet owners who abandon their pets face fines of up to RM2,000 under Section 73 of the VPHO 1999, while allowing dogs to roam freely could result in fines of up to RM2,500 under Section 37 of the VPHO.
Members of the public should also be wary of free roaming stray animals. Rabies remains a serious threat in Sarawak, with a high mortality rate. – DayakDaily
