By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Feb 15: The Kuching South City Council (MBKS) is pushing for a policy to make microchipping of pet animals mandatory rather than optional, aiming to enhance pet responsibility among owners.
Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng emphasised the council’s commitment to getting the law passed, stressing the importance of long-term responsibility in pet ownership.
“Those who wish to own pets must treat their commitment like a lifelong vow—just as in Valentine’s Day promises. Do not abandon your pets when they become inconvenient or less desirable. Once you take them in, it’s a long-term commitment, not a choice,” he said during his ShallWeeTalk Facebook live session today.
Previousely, there are 2,766 registered dogs within the MBKS jurisdiction, with 2,022 recorded in 2024.
“Based on these figures, the number of registered dogs has dropped by about 700. I sincerely hope this does not mean more abandoned or stray dogs,” he added.
Wee also revealed that enforcement authorities will launch another crackdown on unvaccinated pets after the completion of five mass anti-rabies vaccination campaigns this year.
To further support this effort, MBKS has added an additional vaccination drive, scheduled for Sept 20 at the MBKS Community Hall, bringing the total to five campaigns for 2024.
These initiatives will also offer microchipping, pet licensing, and subsidised neutering services.
Following the success of the first campaign held today at the Sarawak Badminton Association (SBA) in Lorong Lapangan Terbang 1, the upcoming drives are scheduled as follows:
- April 12 – MBKS Community Hall
- July 5 – Song Swee Guan Recreation Park, Tabuan Jaya
- Sept 20 – MBKS Community Hall
- Oct 4 – Sarawak Association Basketball Court, Taman Seng Goon
Wee urged pet owners to take advantage of these opportunities.
“With five campaigns lined up and announced early, there is no excuse for pet owners to neglect their pets’ annual vaccinations,” he said.
He reiterated that responsible pet ownership is crucial in Sarawak’s fight against rabies.
“Our goal is to achieve zero rabies cases in Sarawak, and we are pleased that no positive cases were reported this week. We hope to maintain this and eventually eradicate rabies entirely,” he stated.
Despite the positive progress, Wee called for continued vigilance, reminding pet owners to ensure their animals receive regular vaccinations. — DayakDaily
