KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas has confirmed that the Sarawak Veterinary Department does not drown its captured strays instead they euthanise the dogs humanely.
He said this after taking the New Sarawak Tribune on a tour of the Sarawak Veterinary Department’s laboratory at Jalan Muara Tuang where the purported drowning had taken place.
Douglas said that between 20 and 30 dogs are euthanised at the premises every day.
“There are no water tanks on the premises so the story about the drowning is not true. But the dogs are kept in cages in the area and before they are put to sleep their collars are taken off and put near an enclosed water tank.
“She must have thought that the blue water tanks were where the dogs were drowned because the collars are taken off the animals before they are euthanised.”
Douglas added: “If you have proof that our people are drowning or using cruel methods to kill the dogs let me know. I will be the first to take action against the offenders.”
Meanwhile during the tour of the Veterinary premises Douglas was briefed on the latest development on the rabies outbreak.
Kuching City proper has been declared “black” area where Rabies was prevalent and as such the removal of stray dogs and cats was essential.
“Yes the removal of dogs and cats from our streets is an on-going campaign which is a perennial affair” he said.
Douglas said that the government is aware of the sentiment of the people and pointed out a recent case in Miri where a dog attacked a man.
He said: “We detained the dog and after checking on the facts discovered that the canine had been threatened with a stick before the attack.
“So we detained the animal and found it was not an rabies-infected animal. After 40 days in quarantine it was returned to the owner. We are not as heartless as we have been portrayed”.
Douglas said that members of the public should be responsible and should work with the SSPCA or SOS to identify places which could be possible rabies-infected areas.
“We understand your concerns but it’s a thankless job we have to do and we are portrayed as cruel humans.”
Up till now 10,000 dogs have been “removed, culled or killed” while the State Veterinary Department has vaccinated 70,000 canines in a state-wide operation.
