News / Local
Escalation of stray dogs worry BCC
11 Dec 2017 at 06:59hrs | Views
Bulawayo City Council authorities have expressed concerns over the increasing number of stray dogs in the city.
Latest council minutes states that the Committee considered the matter and Councillor Monica Lubimbi observed that there were a lot of stray dogs resulting in dogs bites.
"It was very difficult to ascertain if these stray dogs had been vaccinated against rabies. A clean sign of rabies symptom was a lot of saliva. A tie-up order was therefore needed. There was need for Councillors to inform residents and more campaigns should be done with regards to rabies outbreak," reads the minutes.
Councillor Tholani Ngwenya concurred. She felt messages could be sent via social media and utilities Council bill statements. She also enquire about report which indicated that 8 dog carcasses had tested positive of rabies.
The Chairperson Councillor L. Mlilo noted residents never read messages from utility bills statements.
Feedback meetings, funeral gathering and social media should be used to disseminate such information. She also sought clarification on meat inspection and the confiscating from butcheries.
In response the Director of Health Services explained that all meat should be inspected and thereafter stamped. This was done at Abattoirs and Council confiscated all uninspected meat.
8 cases of rabies were reported by Veterinary Services and SPCA. A sample was done in the city randomly and 8 dogs carcasses tested positive to rabies. This suggested that there were more cases.
"A tie- up order was being prepared. Residents were encouraged to vaccinate their dogs. Councillors should alert residents on the rabies situations and encourage residents to monitor their dogs," reads the minutes.
"The Director of Housing and Community Services also explained that residents should be upraised the signs and symptoms of rabies so that they could take precautions. The Chamber Secretary explained that other stakeholders were being consulted regarding the tie-up order. Campaigns would be carried out through social media and radio programme of Skyz Metro F.M every Tuesday at 7:30 pm."
Latest council minutes states that the Committee considered the matter and Councillor Monica Lubimbi observed that there were a lot of stray dogs resulting in dogs bites.
"It was very difficult to ascertain if these stray dogs had been vaccinated against rabies. A clean sign of rabies symptom was a lot of saliva. A tie-up order was therefore needed. There was need for Councillors to inform residents and more campaigns should be done with regards to rabies outbreak," reads the minutes.
Councillor Tholani Ngwenya concurred. She felt messages could be sent via social media and utilities Council bill statements. She also enquire about report which indicated that 8 dog carcasses had tested positive of rabies.
The Chairperson Councillor L. Mlilo noted residents never read messages from utility bills statements.
In response the Director of Health Services explained that all meat should be inspected and thereafter stamped. This was done at Abattoirs and Council confiscated all uninspected meat.
8 cases of rabies were reported by Veterinary Services and SPCA. A sample was done in the city randomly and 8 dogs carcasses tested positive to rabies. This suggested that there were more cases.
"A tie- up order was being prepared. Residents were encouraged to vaccinate their dogs. Councillors should alert residents on the rabies situations and encourage residents to monitor their dogs," reads the minutes.
"The Director of Housing and Community Services also explained that residents should be upraised the signs and symptoms of rabies so that they could take precautions. The Chamber Secretary explained that other stakeholders were being consulted regarding the tie-up order. Campaigns would be carried out through social media and radio programme of Skyz Metro F.M every Tuesday at 7:30 pm."
Source - Byo24News
