Animal lovers like me are sick of finger pointing, rants, vigils, protests and meetings following the controversy regarding the culling of street dogs following a recent rabies outbreak last month. Since September 21st, there has been no new cases of infected dogs.

Newly-minted Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek has breathed new hope into this issue with his attempt to address matters on animal welfare via middle ground.

Thank you, Shabery, for creating a new platform of cooperation on animal issues via the establishment of a special committee comprising both  Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) and NGO representatives, under the umbrella of your Ministry.

This pro-active and humane path certainly augurs well, not only for the canine population but also for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who lobby for the betterment of animals.

That a Federal Minister has gone the extra mile to take proactive steps to intervene in what is regarded as a regional problem affecting the northern states of the Peninsula is highly commendable.

Beyond paying lip service, Shabery has given the assurance that the DVS will visit Penang to assess the situation and facilities there before embarking on mass vaccination.

One that listens to the rakyat, it is reassuring to note how he has listened to and accepted explanations from NGOs  regarding how many strays are actually community dogs that had been neutered and vaccinated.

A gentleman, Shabery will not ride roughshod over state administration in his decision not to call for a stop to the culling. Instead some of the measures he suggested indicate a very pragmatic long-term solution including:

Vaccinate the street dogs first,

Quarantine these vaccinated dogs,

Ensure community dogs (who are being fed and cared for by feeders) are properly labelled as such of those.

This is a caring and committed Minister who has a plan, executes that plan and engages the rakyat to see it through for long haul in a win-win situation for all, including the innocent dogs.

Those who nosedive into inhumane stop-gap measures via culling must learn the ways of Shabery.

By Tan Hock Khai
The Malay Mail

Continue reading

PUTRAJAYA: The Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) will establish close cooperation with non-governmental organisations (NGO) to address matters related to animal welfare.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said a special committee had already been formed comprising both DVS and NGO representatives.

"This marks a new beginning of a close cooperation and eventually it will become a new platform to work together on animal issues," Ahmad Shabery told a press conference after chairing a meeting between NGOs and the DVS.

The meeting primarily discussed the rabies outbreak in the northern states with the NGOs asking for the culling of street dogs to stop as there had not been any new cases of infected dogs since Sept 21.

On whether the Government would consider carrying out mass vaccination of street dogs as requested by the NGOs, Ahmad Shabery said many things would have to first be taken into consideration.

"The DVS will go to Penang and look at all the available facilities as well as ensure if there was sufficient vaccinations, only then can mass vaccination be looked into," added Ahmad Shabery.

He said that once vaccinated the street dogs must be quarantined and the logistics for this must also be taken into consideration.

Ahmad Shabery also said the NGOs highlighted the fact that many dogs on the streets were not strays, but community dogs that had been neutered and vaccinated.

"Maybe we need some sort of labelling for these community dogs such as specific collars to identify them as community dogs," said Ahmad Shabery.

On whether the DVS will call for the culling order in Penang to stop, Ahmad Shabery said no decision will be made as of now but hoped that the culling can be stopped soon.

Noah's Ark Ipoh founder Dr Ranjit Mendhir said the meeting with the minister was very encouraging.

"Hope the close camaraderie and cooperation between the govt and NGOs will continue," he added.

Penang Hope Of Strays founder Mei Lim said although the meeting went well, she was disappointed that there was no call to stop the culling.

She added rescuers and Penang were very saddened as their community dogs were being killed unnecessarily.

Source: The Star

Continue reading

PUTRAJAYA: Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani akan merancang pelan pencegahan jangka panjang bagi menangani penularan penyakit anjing gila atau rabies, kata menterinya Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

Gambar dari The Star

Beliau berkata walaupun tiada kes terbaharu rabies dilaporkan sejak 21 September, kementerian komited dengan langkah seterusnya dalam mengendalikan penyakit itu.

"Ada pandangan mengatakan langkah yang dibuat ketika ini adalah baik dan sudah berkesan, namun ada juga yang berpandangan kita tetap perlu merangka langkah yang lebih baik daripada apa yang dilakukan sekarang," katanya pada sidang media di sini Selasa.

Terdahulu, beliau mengadakan pertemuan bersama badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang terlibat mengendalikan hal berkaitan kebajikan haiwan, antaranya  Persatuan Pencegahan Penganiyaan Haiwan (SPCA) dan Persatuan Veterinar Malaysia.

Berikutan penularan penyakit yang mula dikesan di Perlis pada 19 Ogos lepas, diikuti Kedah dan Pulau Pinang sehari selepas itu, Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani kemudiannya mengisytiharkan ketiga-tiga negeri tersebut sebagai kawasan jangkitan penyakit anjing gila.

Mengenai perjumpaan itu, Ahmad Shabery berkata beberapa perkara positif telah diutarakan untuk pertimbangan kementerian, antaranya membenarkan proses vaksinasi dilakukan terhadap anjing di luar daripada tiga negeri terlibat serta kemungkinan mengadakan vaksinasi menyeluruh ke atas semua anjing.

Selain itu, katanya mereka juga meminta agar tidak mentakrifkan semua anjing terbiar sebagai anjing liar kerana sebahagian daripada yang terbiar itu sebenarnya merupakan anjing yang turut dijaga masyarakat.

"Semua padangan ini kita dengar, kita anggap semuanya adalah positif namun masih memerlukan beberapa perincian sebelum sebarang keputusan dibuat," katanya.

Sementara itu, Timbalan Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Perkhidmatan Veterinar Dr Kamaruddin Md Isa berkata langkah pencegahan yang efisien merupakan antara faktor penyakit itu berjaya dikawal.

Antaranya memberi vaksin kepada anjing bertuan, mengawal populasi anjing yang berkeliaran serta mengadakan lawatan dari rumah ke rumah bagi memberi kesedaran berkaitan penjagaan haiwan itu.

Mengenai tempoh negeri terbabit boleh diisytihar bebas rabies, beliau berkata jika keadaan tanpa kes seperti itu berlarutan selama enam bulan, negeri berkenaan sudah boleh dianggap bebas.

"Pertubuhan Kesihatan Haiwan Sedunia menetapkan dua tahun sebagai indikasi bagi sesebuah negara yang dilanda rabies untuk diisytihar bebas, namun bagi negeri tempoh enam bulan tanpa kes sudah memadai," katanya. - BERNAMA

Continue reading