Veterinary Services plead with assemblies to arrest stray dogs

Dr. Saviour Denueme, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of the Veterinary Services Department (VSD), has appealed to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to arrest and confine stray dogs to control rabies – an infectious viral disease.

He said he found it deeply troubling the increasing rate of dog bites in the region - resulting in disturbing rise in rabies cases.

Dr. Denueme told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Sunyani that 23 cases had been recorded within a space of 12 months.

A total of 172,000 dogs and 95,000 cats had been registered in the region by the VSD.

He said the Department had vaccinated just 11,522 dogs and 445 cats and urged owners of pets to get them vaccinated.

He condemned the non-cooperation of many of the animal owners and said the assemblies needed to act firmly to get people to do the right things.