Thousands of dogs to be slaughtered

TANGERANG (JP): Tangerang regency will slaughter 8,171 stray dogs and vaccinate all pet dogs to prevent the spread of rabies in the area.

Tangerang Regent Saifullah AR said yesterday that the 19,634 dogs -- including 8,171 stray dogs -- that live in the regency's 73 villages have the potential to spread the disease.

"The termination of the stray dogs is expected to help eradicate the disease from the regency completely," he said at the launch of an antirabies drive in Pamulang district.

He said the 44-day drive, from Oct. 11 to Nov. 25, is being jointly carried out by the regency and the local public order office.

He said the remaining 11,463 dogs were pets and they would be given a rabies vaccination.

The head of the regency's husbandry office, Panji Satria, said 4,000 stray dogs had been terminated since the drive began.

Panji said the dogs were given meatballs which had been mixed with a poisonous powder.

"Ten minutes after eating the meatballs the dogs will die," he said. (41/jun)