Call for Halt to Dog Culling

RENON ~ Local animal-welfare organization Yudistira Foundation has urged Bali’s government to stop the mass elimination of dogs currently underway in an attempt to control a deadly outbreak of rabies.

Foundation manager Wayan Mudiarta said only dogs that tested positive for rabies should be put down, and street dogs should be vaccinated before any more mass eliminations proceeded.

He said he was disappointed at the way the dogs were eliminated using poisoned food.

“Eliminations should be done with minimum pain and suffering caused to the animals, even though the government may find it difficult to use more ideal methods at the moment,” Mudiarta said.

According to data from Bali’s Agriculture Department, 2,600 dogs have been put down since the first occurrence of rabies in Badung Regency in September 2008.

At least five people are known to have died from the rabies virus since late last year, after being bitten by rabid dogs.