Fear of rabies and other diseases spread by stray dogs has prompted a Mandalay veterinary surgeon to call for a dog sanctuary to be built.
A dog sleeps on a pile of sand. (Douglas Long/The Myanmar Times)
A plan to put the dogs down by poison has not been implemented because it conflicts with Buddhist principles, said one Mandalay-based vet.
“Mandalay City Development Committee is responsible for removing stray dogs, but MCDC hasn’t carried out a plan to poison them because it is not a suitable solution according to Buddhism. The best way to deal with the problem is to create a sanctuary, because people are at risk if the dogs roam freely in public,” said the vet, who asked not to be named.
A plan to vaccinate dogs against rabies ran into problems because they were hard to track.
“We can vaccinate pets and dogs in monasteries, but not dogs in the markets and on the street. A fenced sanctuary would help us to control infection.”
Ministry of Health figures show about 200 people died from rabies in Myanmar last year, a four-fold increase on 2011, when about 50 died.
The veterinarian said controls on the import and export of animals to prevent the spread of disease were also required.
“Traders should be able to prove that the dog was vaccinated before it crosses the border, whether entering or leaving the country,” he said.
A sanctuary would require funding, either from government or donors, as well as trained staff, he said.
Mandalay dog lover U Thein Htun Aung said that he hoped a dog sanctuary could be created through cooperation between vets and donors.
“These days, stray dogs are caught and illegally exported to China [to be eaten]. They should be taken care of. The sanctuary would also help to control rabies,” he said.
Translated by Thiri Min Htun
A plan to put the dogs down by poison has not been implemented because it conflicts with Buddhist principles, said one Mandalay-based vet.
“Mandalay City Development Committee is responsible for removing stray dogs, but MCDC hasn’t carried out a plan to poison them because it is not a suitable solution according to Buddhism. The best way to deal with the problem is to create a sanctuary, because people are at risk if the dogs roam freely in public,” said the vet, who asked not to be named.
A plan to vaccinate dogs against rabies ran into problems because they were hard to track.
“We can vaccinate pets and dogs in monasteries, but not dogs in the markets and on the street. A fenced sanctuary would help us to control infection.”
Ministry of Health figures show about 200 people died from rabies in Myanmar last year, a four-fold increase on 2011, when about 50 died.
The veterinarian said controls on the import and export of animals to prevent the spread of disease were also required.
“Traders should be able to prove that the dog was vaccinated before it crosses the border, whether entering or leaving the country,” he said.
A sanctuary would require funding, either from government or donors, as well as trained staff, he said.
Mandalay dog lover U Thein Htun Aung said that he hoped a dog sanctuary could be created through cooperation between vets and donors.
“These days, stray dogs are caught and illegally exported to China [to be eaten]. They should be taken care of. The sanctuary would also help to control rabies,” he said.
Translated by Thiri Min Htun
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