Kelantan authorities may cull pet and stray dogs that have not received their anti-rabies vaccinations or do not have vaccination tags by April each year.
Kelantan Local Government, Housing, Health and Environment Committee chairman Hilmi Abdullah said all dogs must be vaccinated against rabies between January and April annually to help prevent the disease from spreading.
For illustration purposes only
Dogs without rabies vaccinations may be culled
Hilmi said the move is part of Kelantan’s 2026 order on rabies prevention, which requires all dogs to be vaccinated against the disease to curb its spread, according to Kosmo!.
Under the order, every vaccinated dog will receive a numbered metal identification tag before being licensed by the local authorities. Dogs without vaccination tags after April may face action, including being culled.
“Of the five dogs caught in a recent operation by local authorities and the Veterinary Services Department (VSD), two have been culled so far,” he added.
Hilmi also pointed to Kelantan’s border with Thailand as another factor that could increase the risk of rabies spreading, as dogs may cross between the two countries.
He said the recent cases, including a death reported in Kubang Pasu, Kedah, last month, and a child in Kelantan who contracted the disease earlier that month, serve as a reminder of the dangers of rabies.
Stay tuned to WORLD OF BUZZ for more updates!
Also read: Seremban City Council to Offer Malaysians RM50 to Hand Over Stray Dogs, RM25 for Puppies
