Vaccinate your dogs annually — Mityana residents advised

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MIYANA - In some villages in Mityana district, when dogs give birth to several puppies, families struggle to feed them.  

As a result, they throw some away. The puppies that survive later start roaming around the villages causing harm.

Allen Nabulya, an animal production officer revealed this during a free animal clinic that took place in Busunju Town Council, Mityana district on October 8, 2024, in commemoration of World Rabies Day. 

“Every living thing was created to learn to survive. Your dogs give birth to puppies and you throw them in the bushes. They then struggle to survive and come back and torment you,” she said.

Nabulya argued that if people vaccinated dogs against rabies and also performed surgeries to prevent them from reproducing, such issues would not occur.

While some people might overlook the issue of vaccination against rabies, Nabulya says this can greatly affect them.

Dr. Godfrey Ssemalago, a veterinary officer at Mityana District Local Government, revealed that almost every year, they get death reports from cases of rabies.

Allen Nabulya, an animal production officer said roaming dogs can cause harm. This was during a free animal clinic that took place in Busunju Town Council, Mityana district on October 8, 2024, in commemoration of World Rabies Day. (Credit: Maureen Nakatudde)

“This year, 2024, a dog in Nakwaya village bit a baby's lips. The parents of the baby treated the wounds, which healed, but the diseases remained in the body. After some time, the child died of rabies,” Ssemalago revealed. “In Namungo village, a cow was bitten by a dog and its owner did not mind.  Later, the cow showed signs of rabies like drooling and some insanity."

Ssemagalo said that the cow later died. When it was tested for rabies at Entebbe Grade B Hospital, it was positive.

But also, last year in Kalangalo village, a pack of dogs besieged a pupil who was going to school early in the morning. “They ate part of his head, legs, and arms,” Nabulya said. “He died immediately.”

Sue Williams, the President of Uniquely Paws Ltd revealed that when dogs are vaccinated against rabies, their dangers in society are minimised. Williams, therefore, appealed to the people to bring their dogs for vaccination to avoid such risks.

At the event, the assistant division officer of Busunju Town Council, Matiya Lukenge, observed that some of the dogs were malnourished.  

Sue Williams, the President of Uniquely Paws Ltd. (Credit: Maureen Nakatudde)

He intimated that the owners were just happy to have the animals, but they did not feed them. As a result, the dogs roamed in the village and became dangerous as they searched for what to eat, thus harming human beings in the process.

However, Lukenge urged the owners to take this free opportunity for the surgeries so that they can minimise the number of dogs they can manage to look after.

The two-day event led to the coalition working on   389 dogs and cats in areas of Mityana town, Bunsunju town council, and Kikandwa.   

Also, on Saturday, 191 animals in Mpererwe, Kampala, were worked upon. These animals were vaccinated against rabies and they also received surgeries to curb the population increment. 

The exercise was sponsored by Uniquely Paws Ltd in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Uganda Small Animal Practitioners Association (USAPA), and Vetconekt in the celebration of World Rabies Day.