Lo (right) in a photo call with a Husky alongside its owner. – Photo by Roystein Emmor
KUCHING: It is paramount for dog owners in Sarawak to neuter their pets in preventing the spread of rabies in Sarawak, said Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang.
He said that neutering was the best way to control the population of dogs in the state, which been the catalyst to the spread of the virus in 2017.

Video by Roy Emmor
“Although the virus is currently under control, the problem now is the population of stray dogs due to the state’s vast areas such as forests and empty lands, and these stray dogs are capable to breed and expand its population.
“Meanwhile, the stray dogs’ population remained unseen in large cities such as Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. As such, we should vaccinate our dogs by getting the anti-rabies shot and at the same time neuter them so that dogs will not populate further,” the Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman added.
He said this when met by reporters during his visit at the Anti-Rabies Vaccination Programme held at Kampung Semeba here today, of which similar programmes were simultaneously held in Sungai Apong and Taman Hui Sing.
As of 2.15pm this afternoon, the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Sarawak have vaccinated 360 dogs with owners coming in from Kampung Semeba and its nearby areas.
On December last year, DVS Sarawak director Dr Adrian Susin Ambud said the vaccination programme will continue in an effort to achieve a rabies-free state by 2025.