KUCHING: The Local Government and Housing Ministry today sent a team to catch stray dogs at Hui Sing Garden.
On Tuesday, a dog bit four people, one after another, at a coffeeshop at Hui Sing Commercial Centre. The dog was later beaten to death by passers-by.
The incident went viral on the social media.
Present during the operation was the ministry’s head of Public Head Unit Dr Cheong Yaw Liang.
CCTV footage showed that the dog had tried to bite a man, who was sitting down at a coffee shop but the man chased it away.
The dog then bit another man on his leg; ripping off the long pair of jeans he was wearing.
There were claims that the dog was provoked before it went around biting people.
Kuching City South Council (MBKS) said today in a press statement that it was informed about the dog carcass on Tuesday.
“The MBKS Dog Unit went to the site to collect the carcass before sending to the State Veterinary Department (DVS) under the present standard operating procedures (SOP),” it said in the statement.
Upon receiving the news, MBKS officers rushed to the site to enquire on the incident and were told that the particular stray dog was provoked earlier before the biting incident.
“This morning, the MBKS Dog Unit went to the site again and managed to catch one stray dog. The incident was witnessed by a number of reporters and Save Our Strays (SOS) members.”
The council added that the State Disaster Management Committee had done a lot to stop the spread of rabies in the state and it was continuing to take appropriate operations.
“MBKS, being part of its team, will partake in the committee strategies to ensure the safety of the public,” it said.
The council also urged the public and animals lovers to adopt healthy stray dogs and give them “a better home.”
“This will help to reduce the number of stray dogs.
“To all dog owners, please do not throw away your dogs. Keep them at a closed compound for your own safety,” it added.
Asked whether the dead dog and the stray dog caught were rabid, MBKS told reporters to wait for the Sarawak Veterinary Services Department (DVS) to conduct the necessary checks and tests first.
“Later, the State Disaster Management Committee will issue a statement,” it said.
