Johor orders hunt for five feral dogs after girl mauled in Batu Pahat

Johor state authorities have launched a large-scale operation to hunt and capture five feral dogs responsible for attacking a two-year-old girl in Batu Pahat, Malaysia. Mohd Fared Mohd Khaled, chairman of the Johor religious committee, stated that the Batu Pahat district office, Veterinary Services Department (DVS), and police are collaborating on the operation.

This intensified effort will continue for at least a week using various techniques such as monitoring and surveillance, permitted by law. The primary goal is to ensure the child's recovery and prevent similar incidents, as Nur Haira Wafiqah Muhammad Hamizi, the victim, is currently receiving treatment at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of the Sultanah Aminah Hospital.

The immediate capture of the feral animals is crucial to check for rabies and reduce public safety concerns. Mohd Fared, also a Semerah assemblyman, assured that the state government will cover Nur Haira's medical and rehabilitation costs, which are likely to be extensive due to the lengthy recovery process. Despite previous operations in August that captured 22 stray dogs, the feral dog population in the area still poses a challenge, requiring ongoing efforts to control the issue.