RABIES, MASS VACCINATION TO ERADICATE DISEASE, NOT MASS CULLING

Edited: This is the version which I have emailed to CM Lim Guan Eng​

Perhaps if each one of us could write him an email as well as post on his Facebook page, we can make a difference.

Email address: limguaneng@penang.gov.my
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cmlimguaneng?fref=ts
Facebook page of MBPP: https://www.facebook.com/Majlis-Bandaraya-Pulau-Pinang-MBPP-824716250937723/timeline/

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Dear Mr Lim Guan Eng,

I understand that you are concerned about the spread of rabies in Penang, but I do hope that you will re-consider your call to destroy all stray dogs as this method has been proven time and again to be ineffective in curbing the spread of disease as you will not be able to catch all dogs that could be carrying the disease.

I would also like to ask if it has been confirmed that the rabies cases reported were in fact due to dog bites? Rabies is spread by many other animals including dogs and cats, and in particular wildlife such as bats.

Having worked for the The Mayhew Animal Home in the UK for 2 years and having been heavily involved in animal welfare and rescue work in Malaysia for many years, I am can assure you that mass culling of animals usually does little if not nothing to control to spread of the diseases.

In fact International Organisations such as WHO have promoted mass vaccinations of dogs when dealing with rabies outbreaks.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs099/en/

This method has proven to be more successful than culling and at the same time will provide long term immunity which will help eradicate the disease in the long run.

Additionally, I am not sure if you are aware but the dog catchers that have been employed by all councils in Malaysia use very cruel and inhumane methods to catch and kill the strays.

I sincerely hope that you will consider a more humane and sustainable method to curb the spread of this disease rather than ordering the mass culling of strays.

Regards,

Natasha Fernz
Animal Welfare Advocate