Stray dogs to be eliminated in Kiambu following outcry

All stray dogs in Kiambu County will be killed starting today.

Making the announcement, Agriculture Executive Monica Waiganjo said the county was full of stray dogs that were a threat to the residents.

According to a report by the department, the rise in the number of the dogs came after the county ran out of stocks of Strychnine, the bait used to kill the dogs.

Ms Waiganjo said the bait was now available. "Rapid increase in dog population for the last two years has been due to lack of poison from the National Director of Veterinary Services, who is the only authorized importing agency," said Waiganjo in a report seen by The Standard.

The most affected area is Ting'ang'a ward in Kiambu sub-county, where a women was attacked by stray dogs and badly injured on February 26.

This prompted the ward representative, Lawrence Mwaura, to request the executive statement on why the veterinary department had failed to poison the stray dogs despite numerous complaints from the locals.

Ms. Waiganjo announced that her department would conduct a countywide control of all stray dogs by baiting in order to avoid future disasters.

The department will also, with other stakeholders, vaccinate dogs against rabies and neuter them to reduce unwanted and uncontrolled births.

EDUCATE OWNERS

Waiganjo said they would also educate dog owners on the welfare of the animals, including the importance of having them vaccinated against rabies annually.

The department will also enforce the law, which requires all dogs to be licensed, vaccinated against rabies and tagged, as this will help to identify for possible prosecution those letting their dogs loose.

It also emerged that public health facilities do not have anti-rabies vaccines in their stores, meaning dog bite victims are paying Sh4,000 in private hospitals for the vaccine.

An individual requires four injections at Sh800 each.

In the past, cases of stray dogs attacking livestock, especially sheep and goats, have been reported.

Early in the year, farmers in Ting'ang'a village counted 50 of their sheep that were attacked by stray dogs.

John Mwachaga lost six sheep and residents called on the Government to control the number of dogs in the area.