21 Feb 2016

The department of Veterinary Services in collaboration with North West District Council have resolved to embark on an exercise to vaccinate dogs and kill stray ones which cause havoc in the community at Lake Ngami.

The move comes after numerous complaints by Sehithwa residents and the surrounding villages concerning dogs which they say terrorise them.

It was reported that most of the stray dogs were left by fishermen last year when the fishing season came to an end and they had since multiplied in numbers.

Residents have been crying foul that the stray dogs have impoverished them as they had killed their livestock. Even some LIMID beneficiaries were also affected as some had pointed out that their goats had been killed by the dogs.

In an interview, Dr Weave Kashweeka from department of Veterinary Services said a resolution was made after the area MP, Mr Thato Kwerepe took up the issue with relevant authorities.

He explained that they had to intervene as it was reported that residents informed the council about the matter but there was no positive respond.

He also indicated that most of the dogs have no owners and they decided to vaccinate the dogs first to control Rabbies disease which is dangerous to the community and could spread easily.

He said people could be affected by the disease once they are bitten by an infected animal.

Dr Kashweeka revealed that vaccinated dogs would be identified by paint and a Rabbies certificate and dogs which are not vaccinated would be killed.

He said residents had welcomed the idea and they are coming forth to vaccinate their dogs noting that currently 167 dogs had been vaccinated.
 

“This really indicates that we are winning the battle and we believe we would complete the exercise successfully,” he added. ENDS