License And Tag Your Dogs By December 1, 2002

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has given 1st December, 2002 as the ultimatum to all dog owners within the jurisdiction of the authority to ensure that their dogs are licensed and tagged. This is aimed at creating a rabies-free environment for human and animal inhabitants of the metropolis.

Mr. Solomon Ofei Darko, the Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, last Friday launched the "Dog License Tags" campaign. He told dog owners and lovers, "from 1st December, 2002, AMA will embark on house-to-house inspection and arrest any dog in the city without the tag".

He said rabies is a contagious disease capable of affecting all domestic animals and humans. He therefore called for the adoption of measures to prevent it because "at this era of national reconstruction and development we need the contributions of all citizens to promote the crusade".

The Dog License Tags cost ?15,000.

"Dog owners who have vaccinated their animals but have not as yet obtained any license tag," said Mr. Darko, "are directed to contact the veterinary clinics or the Sub-Metro offices to purchase one; it is compulsory that all dog owners obtain the license."

The metropolis has a number of vaccination points. These include La Veterinary Hospital, East Legon Veterinary Centre, Criskal Veterinary Clinic at Awudome, Maldaverts at Mamprobi, Beach Veterinary Centre at Teshie-Nungua and the Armed Forces Veterinary Clinic at Cantonments.

The Accra Mayor said bye-laws would be enforced to stamp out rabies from the city. A typical bye-law on pets stipulates that a person who keeps a dog within the area of authority of AMA shall obtain a license in respect of the pet and if it is a dog, no dog license shall be required in respect of a dog under the age of three months. Also the AMA shall issue no dog license unless the owner produces an inoculation certificate. A dog license shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of issue.

Mr. Darko provided statistics, which proved the steady increase in positive rabies cases and human deaths in Accra. The figures show that in 1997, thirty four positive rabies cases were reported in which three human deaths were also recorded. He said in 2000, the reported cases shot up to 92 as well as 8 deaths.

He said if the AMA crusade is not championed by all inhabitants of the city, lives would be lost because of negligence.

Dr. Daniel Sackey, Metropolitan Director, Food and Agriculture said dog owners who fail to comply to with the bye-laws and allow their dogs to go astray, would be fined ?200,000 before a dog is released. He said apart from that amount, owners would also be compelled to vaccinate and license the dog(s).

He reiterated the calls on dog owners to take the exercise serious and keep dogs in their houses. In a stern reminder, he said when a stray dog is apprehended, it would be quarantined for 14 days and if the owner failed to show up the dog would be put down. He said there are about 33,000 dogs in Accra, a lot of them on the loose causing much irritation and danger to human beings.

Dr. Sackey said based on the improvement of the AMA Dog License Tags initiative, the exercise would in due course extend to other regions of the country.