KUCHING: Dog owners in the city could face fines of up to RM2,000 as the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) ramps up enforcement efforts under this year’s rabies prevention campaign.
MBKS Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng said the stricter approach follows the failure of previous leniency measures to instill compliance among pet owners.
“I will no longer compromise. I once appealed to reduce the compound from RM2,000 to RM50, but people still ignored the rules,” he stressed when speaking to reporters at Hui Sing Park today.
He added enforcement will be carried out by the Sarawak Department of Veterinary Services (DVSS) and dog owners who fail to vaccinate their pets or allow them to roam freely will no longer be given exemptions.
Wee said rabies laws must be taken seriously, as they concern public safety and human lives.
“You want to keep a pet, but then allow it to bite innocent people — what right do you have to endanger others’ health? That’s simply unacceptable.
“Under current laws, dog owners found allowing unvaccinated pets to roam in public may be fined up to RM2,000 or face imprisonment,” he said.
In addition to enforcement, MBKS is boosting its preventive efforts by increasing free rabies vaccination campaigns from two to five times a year.
“We’ve already provided free dog licensing and rabies vaccinations. Now it’s up to the owners to support these initiatives,” Wee added.
He said the DVSS enforcement operations this year will be conducted without prior notice on dates or locations to prevent information leaks.
MBKS Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng said the stricter approach follows the failure of previous leniency measures to instill compliance among pet owners.
“I will no longer compromise. I once appealed to reduce the compound from RM2,000 to RM50, but people still ignored the rules,” he stressed when speaking to reporters at Hui Sing Park today.
He added enforcement will be carried out by the Sarawak Department of Veterinary Services (DVSS) and dog owners who fail to vaccinate their pets or allow them to roam freely will no longer be given exemptions.
Wee said rabies laws must be taken seriously, as they concern public safety and human lives.
“You want to keep a pet, but then allow it to bite innocent people — what right do you have to endanger others’ health? That’s simply unacceptable.
“Under current laws, dog owners found allowing unvaccinated pets to roam in public may be fined up to RM2,000 or face imprisonment,” he said.
In addition to enforcement, MBKS is boosting its preventive efforts by increasing free rabies vaccination campaigns from two to five times a year.
“We’ve already provided free dog licensing and rabies vaccinations. Now it’s up to the owners to support these initiatives,” Wee added.
He said the DVSS enforcement operations this year will be conducted without prior notice on dates or locations to prevent information leaks.