(Bali) Animal group decries dog culling

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Animal group decries dog culling

 

 

Ni Komang Erviani , The Jakarta Post , Denpasar | Wed, 11/04/2009 2:23

PM | The Archipelago

 

The Bali Animal Welfare Association, a non-profit organization dealing with

animal welfare, has staged a strong protest against the local authorities

for their plan to cull stray dogs en masse.

 

The mass culling of stray dogs as part of the authorities' anti-rabies drive

was considered " ineffective " in curbing the spread of rabies on the island.

 

" It also threatens the population of dogs here, " said Janice Girandi, the

association's director.

 

" By killing all dogs in Bali, the island will face another threat, the

rocketing number of rats, which will spread other types of diseases.

 

" This case was happened in Surash, a small city in India.

 

" After culling all affected dogs, the city was busy dealing with the rapid

growth of the rat population, which caused serious diseases. "

 

She said her organization expected that the Balinese administration's

anti-rabies campaign would be carried out properly and effectively.

 

Janice further said the local authority had culled both stray dogs and pet

dogs that had already received anti-rabies vaccines. " *The drive* was

regrettable, " she said.

 

Janice added that the World Health Organization (WHO) had stated since 2005

that the elimination of dogs as part of preventing rabies epidemic was

ineffective.

 

The UN body recommended mass vaccination as the most effective method to

fight the epidemic.

 

Mass vaccination programs were practiced in Mexico. The country had

conducted mass vaccination programs from l990 through 2006 providing more

than 7.1 million anti-rabies vaccines to free it from the rabies epidemic.

Tanzania had conducted a similar program.

 

She went on to say that the local community must be educated on the

importance of taking care of their dogs.

 

" Vaccination programs must be followed by educative activities to arouse

people's awareness on their animal health conditions, " she said.

 

The Balinese people, she added, were unique.

 

" They do not only keep dogs, they live with them.

 

" The vaccination and educative programs are not too costly. Many foreign

donors are willing to provide funds, " she said.

 

Meanwhile, Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika insisted that the mass culling

of stray dogs was urgently needed to halt the rabies epidemic.

 

" We urge all organizations and foundations that deal with animal welfare to

also feel responsible for solving the problem, " said Pastika, adding most

institutions have lodged protests against any governmental policy.

 

The governor admitted that he was afraid that the rabies epidemic had also

hit monkeys in a number of tourist sites including Sangeh and Monkey

Forests.

 

Janice, however, said that the mass culling of dogs by poisoning the animals

had frightened many foreign visitors.

 

" This will have a serious impact on the island's tourist industry. "