SRDC to clamp down on errant dog owners
SIBU: The Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) will take stern action against errant dog owners, who continue to let their pets roam the streets freely.
SRDC chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai stressed that the council would not tolerate the attitude of such owners in areas under its jurisdiction.
“Yes, we will seek advice of the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) and Sarawak Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) to enforce the relevant ordinances like Prevention of Disease Control Ordinances to compound the errant pet owners.
“They must be responsible for their pets and look after the dogs, including getting them vaccinated as well as confining them within their house compounds. At the moment, we cannot afford to be complacent,” he told thesundaypost.
He said SRDC would get the assistance of the well-trained dog units from other local authorities to assist.
“As for outsourcing to third party, we need to get proper directives from MLGH (Ministry of Local Government and Housing) and SDMC as dog-catching operations require strict SOPs (standard operating procedures), especially the dangers of catching those (rabies) infected dogs.
“We will also be getting reinforcements from other agencies to enhance the manpower.
“What is important is the cooperation from the pet owners to vaccinate their dogs and keep them within their house compounds, or cages.
“We will not tolerate those pet owners who let their pet dogs roam around the neighbourhoods,” he cautioned.
Last month, Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting had said that the municipal council would hire a private contractor to catch stray dogs as part of measures to curb the spread of rabies.