Canine Control

We can see stray dogs wandering almost everywhere: on roads, in parks, in temples, and other public places.  Their sight is an eyesore for passers-by. Still, we seldom think about managing them as they pose a constant threat to public health. Around 99 per cent of rabies infection is transmitted by the bite of rabies-infected dogs. Rabies continues to be a significant public health concern in Nepal. According to EDCD, every year, almost 100 people get infected by rabies, and the disease can be fatal. The number of deaths caused by rabies continues to rise in the country.  Although Nepal aims to eliminate dog-transmitted Rabies by 2030 by vaccinating and sterilising stray dogs, achieving this target appears next to impossible. 

Nepal, like other South Asian countries, has a significant stray dog population and their management is a major challenge. When they are not vaccinated, they become the potential carriers of rabies. Almost 45 per cent of world rabies cases are concentrated in South Asian countries alone, putting us at high risk of this public health menace. A vaccination and sterilisation programme for stray dogs is very important and every local level should carry out this programme to reduce the stray dog population and to put rabies risks under control. Sterilisation programme leads to the reduction of the stray dog population, which eventually makes it easier to manage vaccination efforts and reduce overall risk. 

As per a news report published in this daily, Resunga Municipality in the Gulmi district has started the work on registering domesticated and pet dogs by introducing a mandatory registration policy.  The municipality has registered 90 dogs from 14 wards so far. The Municipality charges dog owners Rs. 300 per dog, providing an identification belt, rabies vaccination, and parasite treatment upon registration. Each local level in the country should follow similar initiatives to make the community safe from rabies infection. Kathmandu Metropolitan City's endeavours to vaccinate and sterilise stray dogs are often reported in the media. 

Around 364 dogs and one cat were sterilised by the Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Service Expert Centre in Syangja. Likewise, the office has administered rabies vaccinations to 401 dogs and one cat.  By registering dogs and providing them with collar belts, the municipality can track the number of domestic dogs and help them distinguish between domestic and stray dogs, enabling the municipality to better manage the dog population. Offering timely rabies vaccines to the dogs, both domestic and stray, the move could significantly lower the health risk posed by dog bites. This endeavour by Resunga Municipality is commendable in saving the lives of people from the potentially deadly disease.  

The Pet and Community Dogs Management Procedure 2081 mandates the compulsory registration of domesticated dogs. Registration provides an opportunity for authorities to enforce pet ownership laws, including penalties for unregistered or abandoned dogs, further curbing the stray dog issue. Thus, stray dog control through vaccination and sterilisation is a timely move that every local level of government should be taking in order to curb the possible risk of rabies as well as make pet ownership systematic and free from undue incidents of danger.