A boy can learn a lot from a dog: obedience, loyalty, and the importance of turning around three times before lying down.
– Robert Benchley, American humourist
Dogs! Some love them, some hate them, and some have no feelings about them either way.
Nevertheless, dogs have earned the reputation of being man’s best friend due to their loyal and affectionate nature.
They have been domesticated for thousands of years and have developed a unique bond with humans.
Many agree that dogs provide companionship, emotional support, and unwavering loyalty. They are highly intuitive and can understand and respond to human emotions.
Additionally, dogs are often trained to perform various tasks and roles such as assistance, therapy, search and rescue, and working dogs in multiple fields.
As pets, their unconditional love, companionship, and ability to enrich our lives, make them invaluable companions, and earn them the title of man’s best friend.
Indeed, it is not surprising that humans often form strong emotional attachments to their pet dogs.
They offer unconditional love and acceptance, which can be incredibly fulfilling for humans.
This deep connection often leads to a strong attachment and a profound sense of love and affection between humans and their canine companions.
In return for this loyalty, dog owners should ensure the well-being, safety, a suitable living environment, nutritious food, regular exercise, and access to veterinary care for their canine companions.
Responsible dog ownership also entails ensuring their dogs receive proper training and socialisation to be well-behaved members of society.
It is also essential to keep dogs safe by providing them with a secure and supervised environment, using appropriate restraints like leashes or fences when necessary.
Responsible dog owners follow local laws and regulations, including licensing and vaccinations.
By fulfilling these responsibilities, dog owners demonstrate gratitude for their dogs’ loyalty and companionship.
Unfortunately, not all dog owners fulfil their responsibilities and obligations towards their pets.
Some owners neglect or mistreat their dogs, leading to neglect, poor health, and suffering. This can include inadequate shelter, food and water, lack of veterinary care, and inadequate exercise and socialisation.
Irresponsible dog owners may also fail to properly train and control their dogs, resulting in behavioural issues or aggression.
Additionally, some owners may abandon their dogs or fail to provide a safe and secure environment, leading to accidents, injuries, or the dogs becoming lost or stray.
It is vital to raise awareness about responsible dog ownership and educate individuals on the proper care and treatment of dogs.
It is good that in Sarawak that we have some animal welfare organisations and authorities that are promoting responsible pet ownership, enforcing laws and regulations, and providing support and resources for pet owners.
By advocating for responsible dog ownership and encouraging education and awareness, we can work towards ensuring that all dogs receive the care, love, and protection they deserve.
In Sarawak, currently, the ongoing spread of rabies complicates the whole issue of perception relating to dogs.
In July 2017, Sarawak experienced its first outbreak of rabies. The outbreak’s source was identified as rabies-infected dogs that freely roamed the border areas between Sarawak and West Kalimantan.
Overall, this outbreak was a significant event as it marked the first occurrence of rabies in Sarawak, which had previously been free from the disease.
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the nervous system of mammals, including humans. It is primarily transmitted through the bite or scratch of an infected animal, most commonly dogs.
The virus spreads through the nervous system to the brain, causing inflammation and ultimately leading to death if left untreated.
Rabies prevention involves vaccination for pets and humans at risk of exposure.
Once symptoms of rabies appear, the disease is almost always fatal, with a meagre survival rate.
To its credit, the Sarawak government, via the State Disaster Management Committee, financed and implemented many initiatives to eradicate rabies.
The initial surge in the eradication efforts seem to have tapered off. However, the recent deaths of infected humans have seen a renewed effort.
The eradication of rabies is a challenging task. Still, it can be achieved through governmental and public collaboration over a sustained period.
Understandably, dog owners get emotional when their dogs get captured outside the owner’s compound while free roaming and euthanised by the local authorities.
However, they should not pressure politicians and government workers to stop or slow down the capture of stray or free-roaming dogs.
Hopefully, there is no unofficial appeasement policy by those in charge to slow down the catching of free-roaming or stray dogs due to complaints by distraught dog owners.
These types of ‘unofficial’ instructions would be counterproductive to the State Disaster Committee instructions. They can also put the lives of many innocent peoples at risk.
Containing this rabies outbreak in Sarawak requires understanding and collaboration by all the stakeholders.
It is a battle that we must win to ensure the safety and well-being of both humans and animals.
You too can help in the efforts to ensure Sarawak once again become free of the rabies virus.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
