KUCHING, May 13: Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (Pas) Sarawak is urgently calling upon the local authority to take immediate action to address the issue of stray dogs roaming in Tudan Desaras area of Miri.
In a statement today, Sarawak Pas commissioner Jofri Jaraiee said residents of the village and surrounding housing have raised concerns about the excessive number of dogs in their area.
Jaraiee emphasised the need for the local authorities to pay attention to the dogs that roam and scavenge garbage in the Tudan Desaras area.
“Action needs to be taken because it is feared that these dogs could threaten the lives of the people there if they carry the rabies virus,” he said.
He further highlighted that this issue has been brought to the attention of the relevant parties for some time; however, dogs continue to roam freely without being controlled by their owners.
Jaraiee stated that if pets are allowed to roam freely and interact with rabid dogs, there is a risk of infection, and they may even pose a threat to their owners by biting them if left unattended.
“Concerned dog owners should also control their dogs from roaming with stray dogs, otherwise their dogs will be removed by the authorities for threatening the lives of residents,” he added.
Meanwhile, there have been nine rabies fatalities recorded in Sarawak as of April this year, with the latest case involving a 50-year-old man from Kampung Bumbok along Jalan Batu Kitang in Kuching here.
The severity of the situation has prompted immediate attention from local councils in Sarawak with Kuching South City Council, Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) and Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) have launched dedicated from May 8 to 12 to capture stray dogs in the city, apart from mass vaccination campaigns to curb rabies. – DayakDaily.
