Residents call for free veterinary clinics

Residents in Kasubi Kawaala a Kampala suburb have called on the government to put up free veterinary clinics on each health center.

Lead by their area woman councilor Lukia Nampeela residents agreed that this will enable them have their pet animals vaccinated annually as recommended by veterinary doctors.

Speaking to The New Vision during a free dog and cat's vaccination outreach at Kawaala health center, Nampeela said most of the residents in her area keep dogs for security purposes however keep them none vaccinated.

"Many here keep pet animals especially dogs for security purposes however keep them none vaccinated which puts people's lives in danger," Nampeela said.

She added that for the past years, they have heard cases of rabies as dogs especially stray dogs bite people and infect them with the disease.
 

Shafic Walusimbi a dog's trainer at Kawaala told The New Vision that KCCA should halt its act of killing dogs adding that police has no enough man power to provide enough security to all citizens and said dogs help out with security.

He added that people should take good care of their pets especially dogs saying they are good companions and provide good security.

Fred Kidhubo a Kawaala resident said KCCA should continue with its act of killing stray dogs adding that will encourage  pet' owners to protect them and only let them out at the right time.

In response, Paul Suuna a veterinary doctor and president One Health club Makerere University, told residents that it is the pet owners' responsibility to have their animals vaccinated adding that they should not wait for the government institutions to vaccinate them.

Suuna added that veterinaries charge from sh3000 and on depending on the veterinary one visits.

 Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) together with Makerere university veterinary students vaccinated 300 dogs and close to 60 cats with a rabies vaccine in Kampala city as one of the way to fight the disease.

The outreach is part of the activities to mark the world veterinary day which will celebrate on April 30 this year.

According to Dr Nabaasa a veterinary a KCCA officer, Kampala is home to about 20,000 dogs, out of which 6,000 are stray ones without ownership, about 2,000 dogs have owners who don't care about them and about 12,000 are controlled and cared for by their owners.