SIBU: Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) dog-catching unit had caught 83 dogs in January and 96 dogs in February.
However, SMC chairman Clarence Ting said stray dogs remained a problem.
According to him, he had written many times about dogs being let loose on the residential roads.
“Over the last few months SMC has handled a lot of feedback on dog nuisance in their neighbourhood.
“And I have given instructions to catch and put down all dogs within the city limits. This will continue till residents appreciate their pets and the dangers they pose to others,” he said while sharing the heartbreaking news on the death of a five-year-old girl, Abbiera Mia Alexson, at Sibu Hospital on Thursday.
She is suspected to have been infected with rabies after she was bitten by a stray dog early this month at Jalan Sentosa.
He said it was a needless tragedy to occur for society to wake up to the dangers.