BATU KAWA: In a bid to curb rabies and promote responsible pet ownership, a mass vaccination, dog licencing, and microchipping programme was held today (June 17) at Dewan Bola Keranjang, SJK Chung Hua Batu Kawa.
The event, organised by the Padawan Municipal Council (MPP), aimed to raise public awareness and encourage pet owners to take proactive measures to protect their pets and the community from the deadly disease.
When met at the event, MPP chairman Tan Kai said since the first case of rabies was recorded in July 2017, Sarawak has witnessed a total of 41 cases, with 39 resulting in fatalities and 68,539 animal bite cases reported between 2017 and 2021.
“The recent deaths in Boulder Built Park and Kampung Tematu further underscored the need for a comprehensive approach to combating rabies.
“Consequently, authorities have decided to organise this programme, which includes mass vaccination, dog licencing, and microchipping, to instill a sense of responsibility among pet owners and minimise the risk of rabies transmission.
“Last year, the MPP and Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVS) successfully conducted four similar events, resulting in 710 vaccinated dogs, 479 issued licences, and 485 microchips installed.
“Building on this success, the authorities have set a target of six more programmes this year, with the latest one held in May at Kpg Semeba. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with 636 licences and microchips issued and 845 dogs vaccinated,” he said.
He added that the upcoming programmes are scheduled to take place at Kota Sentosa in July, Malihah in August, Kota Padawan in September, and Desa Wira in October.
Therefore, Tan Kai urged the public to stay informed about the schedule and precise locations of these events through various mass media platforms such as Facebook, websites, and other channels.
To effectively combat the rabies threat, he said, pet owners are strongly advised to ensure their dogs receive the anti-rabies vaccine.
Additionally, dog owners must comply with the local authorities’ regulations by licencing their pets as stipulated in By-Law 4(1) of the Local Authorities (Dog Licensing and Control) By-Law, 2018.
