The Sunday News
Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
PLUMTREE residents are fuming over shooting of stray dogs in the border town, they accused the council of shooting vaccinated dogs in a recent operation. The local authority held an operation code named “Tie up Order” in conjunction with the Department of Veterinary Services from 16 to 18 March in a bid to curb the spread of rabies.
Disgruntled residents said the council had failed to be accurate in its operation.
“Firstly the council did not communicate with us in an effective manner as some of us did not know about this exercise. In addition my dog was shot but it had been vaccinated recently.
“They found my dog lying outside the gate and it had a leash on but they just shot it. I wonder why they urge us to vaccinate dogs if they are going to shoot them. The operation was necessary but it had to be done properly,’’ said Mr Freedom Ndebele.
Another resident, who also had his dog shot, Mr Sikhumbuzo Mhlanga said the council only had to shoot dogs that were not vaccinated.
He said the exercise had not been done properly as the local authority had indicated that it would shoot stray dogs which had not been vaccinated.
The town’s secretary, Mr Davis Dumezweni Luthe, said he was, however, yet to receive a report on the number of dogs which had been shot dead under the exercise.
“We conducted this exercise in order to curb the spread of rabies but I do not have the figures on the number of dogs which were shot. I will have to first get in touch with the relevant department within the council for the information,” he said.
A senior official within the Plumtree Council said the exercise was aimed at eliminating unvaccinated dogs.
“Prior to the shooting exercise the veterinary department was conducting free vaccination for dogs. All the dogs that were vaccinated were being sparred in the shooting,” he said.
According to a notice, which was issued by the council and the Tepartment of Veterinary Services recently, the exercise was being conducted according to Section 8 of the Animal Health Act (Rabies) Regulations of 1996.
“The public is being notified that there shall be a tie up order from the 16 March to 18 March. Therefore all dogs should be confined or securely chained or tied up.
“Failure to secure or have proof of a dog being vaccinated will result in the destruction of such dogs,” read the notice.
In the notice the council also stated that dog owners that allowed their animals to roam freely would be prosecuted.
A councillor in the town, Maxwell Washaya, said stray dogs had become a menace especially within the CBD.
He said a number of dogs were roaming around shops and overturning dustbins on a daily basis hence the need to contain them.
The Bulawayo City Council also launched its tie up order operation recently in conjunction with the Department of Veterinary Services, ZRP and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The operation, which began on 23 February, is expected to end on 22 April.
Matabeleland North Department of Veterinary Services provincial head Dr Polex Moyo recently revealed that rabies was one of the re-emerging diseases and people had to pay great attention to it.
He said two people died of rabies in Tsholotsho in February.
