By ANDREW MUKOMA
SIAVONGA Town Council has carried out an execution exercise of stray and unregistered dogs which resulted in 51 dogs being gunned down.
The council carried out the exercise in line with the Control of dogs Act Cap 247 of the laws of Zambia.
The four day exercise saw the killing of stray, unregistered and unvaccinated dogs in selected parts of the district.
This is contained in a statement released by Siavonga Town Council Public Relations Officer Gwendolyn Mwanza Mchenga.
Ms Mchanga said that the exercise was conducted by a combined team of Siavonga Town Council Public Health Officers and District Veterinary officers.
She said the activity was aimed at approaching public health matters in a more proactive manner rather than being reactive to out breaks of rabies and further to increase the levels of compliance with dog vaccination and registration with relevant authorities.
Ms Mchenga said the local authority in September this year through the department of Public Health embarked on a community sensitisation on dog registration and vaccination in the district.
“However, it was now time for the Council to act and no affected dog owner was expected to complain when their dogs were found wanting and destroyed,” she said
Local authorities have a mandate to register dogs According to the provisions of the control of the Dog Act Cap 247 of the laws of Zambia.
