Anxiety has gripped Naivasha following four confirmed cases of rabies which have been caused by stray dogs.
The department of veterinary services has embarked on a major vaccination exercise targeting stray dogs mainly in informal settlements.
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According to Naivasha sub-county veterinary officer Miriam Nakeel,
there are
about 5,000 dogs wandering in the open, especially in slum
areas.
“In the past one month, four people have been bitten by stray dogs with confirmed cases of rabies,” Nakeel
said.
She said they would launch a mass vaccination campaign in the sprawling Kihoto estate as a
way of reducing dogs-transmitted human rabies.
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Nakeel
said they have partnered with Africa Network for Animal Welfare and Vet Treks to conduct the vaccinations.
Addressing the media during the same event, Maryanne Wangari from ANAW, said they were targeting at least 200 dogs for sterilization.
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She said that the operation would be carried out in an exercise commonly known as spay-neuter campaign.
“We had received lots of complaints about the high number of stray dogs and that is why we decided to carry out the sterilization campaign,” she said.
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She termed the surgical procedure an expensive venture that was out of reach for many people but was quick to add that they would offer it for free during the period.
The founder of vet treks Dr Lisa McCarthy who conducted some of the surgical procedures said they were partnering with the Kenyans counterparts in carrying out the sterilization exercise.
She termed the two day exercise a success, saying they were able to exchange ideas on how to address the issue of the stray dogs.