Project to control stray dog population launched in Peshawar
PESHAWAR: A project to control stray dog population and protect the public from the fatal rabies disease has been launched in Peshawar jointly by a group of public sector departments with livestock in the lead.
“The project is aimed at sterilization of stray dogs to control its population and to protect public from deadly rabies disease,” said Dr Syed Masoom Ali, Director Livestock Department.
The partner departments in the project include District Administration (DC), Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP), Peshawar Development Authority and Health Department, Dr Masoom told APP.
“The project is first ever not only in Pakistan but also in South East Asia, which will not only serve in maintaining public health through containing rabies but would also stop the cruel practice of culling of stray dogs through shooting and poisoning,” Dr Masoom claimed.
This is a pilot project and confined only to Peshawar district which can be extended to other districts of the province later after observation of results. According to survey of Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP) there are around 7500 to 10,000 stray dogs in Peshawar district.
While according to statistics number of rabies cases in Pakistan are reported around 90,000 on annual basis with 60 percent of infection occurring among teenage boys as young as 15 years of age. During the operation for sterilization, dogs are also vaccinated against rabies so that it could not spread disease in future.
“It has also been decided in principle that if a dog is found to be rabid during investigation that would be poisoned and disposed of properly,” Dr Masoon informed. - APP