A TEAM of officers from the veterinary department and Mufulira Municipal Council (MMC) has gunned down 77 stray dogs to control the spread of rabies in the district.
Mufulira is prone to rabies due to jackals that invade the thickets of Kafironda area and are believed to be carriers of rabies.
Mufulira district veterinary officer Chindo Simwinga said the veterinary department and MMC have embarked on a routine exercise to shoot down stray dogs to prevent the outbreak of rabies.
“Just in the first and second quarter of this year, we have killed 68 stray dogs. This is a routine exercise and just yesterday, we gunned down nine more dogs that were found roaming the streets,” Dr Simwinga said.
He said the district has so far recorded 86 cases of dog bites, hence the need to ensure that stray dogs are killed to safeguard the lives of the people.
Dr Simwinga also said the department has embarked on a massive vaccination exercise to ensure that all the dogs in the district are treated.
“Just in 2014, we recorded 380 cases of dog bites, which is a serious concern. This is the reason why we have intensified our efforts to ensure that we prevent and control the spread of rabies in the district,” he said.
Dr Simwinga said so far this year, more than 550 dogs in the district have been vaccinated against rabies.
He also said dogs from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo also stray into Zambia, transmitting rabies to the local dogs.
Dr Simwinga, however, said the department is also targeting to vaccinate dogs in townships that are close to the border.
Too many dogs, what are they for!
They are for the Chinese to eat in Mufulira’s China Town
Zambia is really full of idiots and I blame President Lungu for people he hires in some positions. The problem is not dogs and shooting them does not curb the problem because they will still keep having more puppies. People who own these dogs are the problem. So get animals and don’t feed them so they end up on the streets. Some get rid of the animals so they fend for themselves. Dogs go in heat meaning they need to mate and the reason of the high populations and you can’t stop nature. The Mufulira City Council needs to monitor dogs owners and force them to “spay” their animals between 6- 9 months so they can’t give birth. To me this is curbing the problem. Bullets are very expensive and can be used on thieves!