Indonesia (mass killing of stray dogs)

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The Jakarta Post Thursday, April 16, 2009 *8:53 AM*

 

Mass killing of stray dogs

 

Tue, 12/09/2008 11:00 AM | Reader's Forum

 

I am a veterinarian from the UK, and animal welfare director for Animals

Asia Foundation, a Hong Kong-based NGO working to improve the welfare and

lives of all animals across Asia.

 

Mass killing of street dogs is a knee-jerk reaction to rabies outbreaks, one

which has long been discredited as a method of rabies control by

international organizations including the World Health Organization.

 

The only effective way of controlling rabies is through carefully planned

trap-neuter-release schemes combined with rabies vaccination.

 

Trap-neuter-release schemes, if properly conducted, stabilize dog

populations and stop the spread of rabies through those populations; healthy

vaccinated dog populations keep sick or rabid dogs away from their areas.

 

Such programs have been instrumental in eliminating rabies from many parts

of the world and have effectively reduced rabies in various Indian cities,

including Chennai and Jaipur.

 

Rabid dogs are most likely to bite and infect people when they are disturbed

or threatened. Attempts to trap and cull stray dogs puts people at great

risk, resulting in increases in the numbers of cases.

 

We urge you to reconsider adopting any dog culling policy in light of the

overwhelming evidence against its effectiveness, and to do the right thing

by your citizens through instigating carefully planned and humanely operated

trap-neuter-release and vaccination programs for your dog populations.

 

MARK JONES

Animal Welfare Director

Animals Asia Foundation

Hong Kong

 

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verified) — Thu, 02/12/2009 - 9:29am

 

Vet Surgeon Mark Jones's idea is excellent. We must not destroy every stray

dog and then think that the rabies epidemic is gone. No! That is not true.

God creates this creature, man's best and most faithful friend, for a

purpose.

 

Early in the 60s, a certain far eastern country thought that the sparrows

and other species of birds feeding on rice paddy should be completely

annihilated so that the rice crop was intact. They mounted a massive

campaign ever imaginable to destroy every sparrow and every other bird that

fed on rice paddy. For a while they seemed to have successfully eliminated

these undesired " rice predators. " What happened next? Insects and worms

these birds fed on multiplied like never before and wreaked more havoc to

the rice crop.

 

So, please, do not cull the stray dogs. Simply follow Dr. Mark Jones' idea.

Have pity on these dogs. They don't want to be born masterless and homeless

and hungry.

 

Tatu Fuad Maulani

 

Jalan Cileungsir 20

Kelurahan Cideng,

Jakarta Pusat, Indonesia.

cell: 0812 10 986610, home 384 6330

 

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Anita mayangpuspa (not verified) — Tue, 12/09/2008 - 4:20pm

 

Mark Jones is one of the most respected and dedicated person I have ever

know.

I've been following his work through his organization for years, including

the bearbile retirement shelter and doctor dog.

 

His opinion is very much appreciated through this times of confusion and the

wronged treatment the animals have to endure because of some people lack of

knowledge.

 

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not

sure about the former.

Albert Einstein