KUCHING: Individuals involved in rescuing a woman attacked by a stray dog have been urged to immediately undergo medical screening and anti-rabies vaccination amid concerns that the animal may have been infected with rabies.
Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng said while the act of disposing of the carcass into the river was against cleanliness by-laws, the council understood the public’s anger and reaction following the incident, when commenting on the case involving a dog carcass allegedly thrown into the river after the attack last Friday (May 8).
“We understand the public’s anger because anyone would react the same way after witnessing such an incident.
“However, our main concern now is the health and safety of those who handled the dog,” he said when speaking to reporters at the MBKS Community Market and Hawker Reunion Luncheon at the Stutong Market today.
He said the council acted immediately after receiving information about the incident through social media posts and public reports, with enforcement teams dispatched to the scene for investigation.
However, he stressed that the council was not seeking to penalise those who helped rescue the victim, but instead wanted to ensure they received proper medical attention.
“We are not trying to get anyone into trouble. We only want those involved to go for a medical check-up and vaccination because even a scratch or exposure to saliva can be dangerous,” he said.
At the same time, he appealed to the public to avoid making unfair accusations or speculative comments on social media regarding the incident.
He said various agencies, including the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS) and local councils, were continuously carrying out vaccination and monitoring efforts involving stray dogs.
Wee explained that stray dogs marked with blue paint on their ears had already been vaccinated under ongoing anti-rabies programmes before being released back onto the streets.
“The authorities are also conducting oral vaccination programmes and regular testing on suspected rabies cases.
“Pet owners should not allow their pets to roam freely, and owning animals carries long-term responsibility.
“Pets are like children. You cannot simply abandon them when they grow older. Responsibility must always be there,” he said.
Wee stressed that the council would continue to carry out enforcement measures against stray dogs in the interest of public safety, despite criticism from certain quarters.
He also reiterated that throwing any object, including animal carcasses, into rivers was an offence under local cleanliness by-laws.
Nevertheless, he said his primary concern remained the welfare and health of those who came into contact with the dog during the rescue effort.
