Dogs may be euthanized

PALU, Central Sulawesi: The husbandry offices of Donggala and Palu regencies will put to sleep a total of 12,980 dogs in a bid to control the spread of rabies, Antara reported yesterday.

A Donggala official, Napsi Sunusi, said in Palu yesterday that another 30,287 dogs will be vaccinated against the disease. The disease kills, on average, 60 people every year, he said.

The offices had earlier planned to vaccinate 43,267 dogs, but limited funds forced a change of plans, Napsi said.

Even then, the number of vaccinated dogs and those to be killed with poison constitutes only 23 percent of the total dog population roaming the regencies, he added.

The Donggala husbandry office is responsible for related affairs in the regency's 16 districts, from along the northwest border joining South Sulawesi with Central Sulawesi, all the way up to North Sulawesi's border.

The vaccination and the poisoning program takes place in a different district every year. "We need more vaccines," Napsi said. (swe)