Public urged to responsibly feed and care for stray dogs

Colombo, July 15 (Daily Mirror) -

Director General of the Department of Animal Production and Health (DAPH), Dr. Sanjika Perera, has urged the public to continue feeding stray dogs while also taking responsibility for their health and welfare.

Clarifying recent comments that had been misunderstood, Dr. Perera said he had never asked people to stop feeding stray dogs.

"Feeding stray dogs is a kind and compassionate act. However, giving them food alone is not enough," he said.

He said people who regularly care for stray dogs should also ensure the animals are vaccinated against rabies, sterilised, and receive proper medical care.

Dr. Perera said solving the stray dog issue requires both compassion and responsibility.

He called on the public to help eliminate rabies by supporting vaccination and sterilisation programmes while continuing to care for stray animals.

"Eliminating rabies from Sri Lanka requires the support of every citizen," he said.

Highlighting the scale of the issue, Dr. Perera said more than 250,000 people are treated in hospitals each year after dog bites, costing the government over Rs. 1 billion annually. He also said that 14 people died from rabies last year.

He added that around 30% of road accidents involve stray dogs, making the issue a serious public safety and economic concern.

"We are developing a national dog population management action plan to support those who want to care for animals in this way, helping to build a more compassionate society," Dr. Perera said.