KUCHING, Sept 22: With rabies still rampant in Sarawak, various city councils have stressed that there their stray dog removal programme will not be halted.
Miri City Council (MCC) stressed the importance of ensuring that stray dogs are kept clear of public places in Miri, despite the worrisome Covid-19 situation.
In fact, the stray dog removal programme has been supported by the general public as reflected by the increasing number of complaints against stray dogs received by the council.
“MCC would like to remind dog-owners to keep their dogs in their house compounds. They should not let their pets out of their houses and allow them to roam in public places as this is risky for their pets as they may get infected with the deadly rabies virus spread by stray dogs.
“The Council would like to assure the general public, especially dog owners, that the Stray Dog Task Force is carrying out their duties in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOP).
“They are trained and familiar with their duties as they have been on duty for many years since the outbreak in 2017,” said MCC in a statement today.
The general public is also urged to stay away from stray dogs to avoid being infected by the rabies virus. Should any individuals get bitten by stray dogs, they should seek immediate medical treatment.
According to reports in May 2021, the latest number of deaths due to rabies among humans in Sarawak this year is four, and the accumulated number of cases has been 35, with 33 deaths since the outbreak. — DayakDaily
