KUCHING: An estimated 10,000 dogs have been culled and eradicated throughout Sarawak over the last year following the first reported case of rabies death in the State in July 2017.
In an unprecedented move, the authorities went on a “covert” operation to cull the canines by roping, tranquilizing or shooting the animals.
The “dog hunt” was initiated a month after a six-year-old girl and her younger brother from Kampung Paon in Serian died after being bitten by a dog on July 4, last year.
The State Disaster Management Committee (Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Negeri) launched their “Operation Anging Gila” in August and “captured, shot or killed” 8,767 free roaming dogs in the various districts.
In an exclusive interview with the New Sarawak Tribune, Kitty Chin, president of Save Our Strays (SOS) Kuching, a home grown animal welfare group said:
“From individual reports and our own approximation, we believe that the number killed is at least 10,000 animals, including those which have already been vaccinated against rabies and other diseases.
“This unhealthy and inappropriate action has put fear among members of the public who have assumed that the rabies in Sarawak has reached pandemic proportions.
“This is not true because it’s much worse in neighbouring Kalimantan where proper preventive measures have been undertaken to control rabies spread and ensure the safety of both humans and man’s best friend.”
Kitty said that killing was not the answer and that neutering and vaccinations was the answer.
She added: “From what we have been told only 2 per cent of the culled animals have been tested and shown to be rabies positive.
“Let us assume that the authorities are using tranquilizers (at RM250 per dart) to catch these poor animals and then RM100 lethal injections it’s not only a waste of money but a very inhumane way of solving the rabies problem.
“Rabies has been endemic in Borneo since time immemorial and been in existence in Borneo’s territories such as Kalimantan, Sabah and Brunei. We all share the same border, but it was only last year we discovered we had it all the time!”
The “culling without warning” has riled especially the rural Dayak populace whose livelihood is linked to their hunting dogs, some of which have been targets of the operation.
Kitty said: “Rabies has been in the world for hundreds of years and in recent times medical professionals have new methods of curbing the disease.
“We are a developing nation and there is no need for culling and killing. I think our society is not happy with this stand the government has taken.”
Rabies is a zoonotic disease that is transmitted only through the bite of infected mammals. This means that the virus can infect wildlife species such as bats, rats, monkeys, dogs, cats and bears.
The disease has been known to man since the 16th Century by an Italian doctor named Girolamo Fracastoro. The rabies vaccine was invented by the French in 1885.
Today, anyone bitten by a rabid animal can go for a series of injections, a process called Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) within 48 hours of the bite and his chances of survival are almost 100 per cent.
“In countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, India, Australia and America they have adopt humane measures to protect both human society and the animals who share a symbiotic relationship.
“They manage the disease in a humane manner with the proven effective approach of mass vaccinations for all dogs, whether owned or free roaming, through a process called Trap Neuter Vaccinate and Release (TNVR),” said Kitty.
She added: “SOS Kuching has been approaching the authorities time and again to do these specific activities:
Do a mass TNVR activity on all free roaming dogs, starting with known problem areas and spreading out from there. We have volunteers from Sarawak and overseas, including technical expertise from rabies experts abroad. They are ready and willing, and just waiting for the authorities to give their blessing.
Get all pet owners to be responsible – vaccinate their pets, do not let them roam freely and DO NOT DUMP them. Dumping of pets results in stray animals roaming the streets.
Do an extensive public awareness programme in all key languages to educate all citizens that if anyone is bitten by any animal, they MUST go for PEP injections within 48 hours.
Kitty reiterated: “Killing or culling is not the answer. We want to collaborate along these lines, but what we have been seeing is more killing, and no easing in of the rabies issue.”
