Kelantan warns: Dogs without anti‑rabies vaccination tags may be culled
BACHOK, Oct 8 — Dogs without vaccination tags or that have not received anti-rabies vaccinations after April each...
Bachok, October 8 — Dogs in Kelantan lacking vaccination tags or not vaccinated since April each year may face culling by local authorities to prevent rabies spread, announced Hilmi Abdullah, chairman of the Kelantan Local Government, Housing, Health and Environment Committee. The provision adheres to the Kelantan Anti-rabies Vaccination Order, mandating dog owners to vaccinate their pets between January and April annually.
Upon vaccination, each canine receives a numbered metal identification tag, granting legal ownership. Unvaccinated dogs or those without tags post-April may face consequences. In a press conference following the Peatland Fire Prevention programme, Hilmi highlighted Kelantan's proximity to Thailand, amplifying the risk of rabies transmission via dog movement across borders.
The recent rabies-related fatality in Kedah and a stray dog attack in Kelantan underscore the disease's lethal potential. Local councils, alongside the Department of Veterinary Services, carry out periodic operations to capture stray dogs; two of five identified dogs have been culled. This year, 21 dogs in Bachok received vaccinations, while samples from 20 other dogs are under rabies testing.
Hilmi urged dog owners to ensure their pets' vaccinations, licensing, and avoidance of roaming to safeguard public safety.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
