As the world marks World Veterinary Day, stakeholders in animal health are calling for renewed efforts to strengthen veterinary services for dogs, amid growing concerns over public health, animal welfare, and the rising number of companion animals in urban communities. ALSO READ: Dog owners in Rwanda told to register pets with village authorities Veterinary professionals say improving access to quality care for dogs is not only essential for the wellbeing of pets but also critical in preventing zoonotic diseases, safeguarding communities, and supporting responsible pet ownership. ALSO READ: Fighting rabies with education and early treatment The call comes at a time when demand for veterinary services continues to increase, particularly in rapidly urbanising cities where dog ownership is on the rise. “Animal health is closely tied to human health, particularly in rapidly growing urban environments,” said Dr. Jean Bosco Turikumwenayo, a veterinary professional at New Vision Veterinary Hospital “As demand increases, there is a need to strengthen both service delivery and public understanding of responsible animal care,” he said. The week of April 20-25 has been marked by various awareness initiatives led by veterinary practitioners, including community outreach, educational campaigns, and engagement with institutions such as working dog units. These efforts aim to highlight the importance of preventive care and the role of veterinarians in safeguarding public health. ALSO READ: Vets in anti-rabies campaign in Musanze Looking ahead, stakeholders are calling for increased investment in veterinary education, stronger policy frameworks, and expanded partnerships between public and private actors. Such efforts are seen as essential to building a more resilient and accessible animal healthcare system in Rwanda. He said there is need for a growing effort within the private sector to address some of these gaps by offering services such as vaccination, laboratory diagnostics, and pet travel certification. Missing dog data stalls rabies elimination efforts The government’s plan to eliminate rabies by 2030 is facing a major setback due to the lack of accurate data on the country’s dog population, according to the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC). Health officials say the data gap is making it difficult to plan vaccination campaigns and meet the World Health Organisation’s threshold needed to stop the transmission of the deadly disease. Rabies, a fatal viral infection transmitted primarily through the bites of infected animals especially dogs continues to pose a public health threat. More than 2,000 people are treated for animal bites each year across the country, and at least one person dies annually, according to RBC. With 99 percent of human rabies cases linked to dog bites, health experts say dog vaccination is the most effective strategy to cut transmission. Bosco Mbonigaba, Director of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Prevention Programme at RBC, said the absence of reliable data on the number of dogs in the country remains a key obstacle. Without knowing how many dogs exist and where they are located, it becomes difficult to estimate vaccine needs or achieve the recommended 70 percent vaccination coverage required to interrupt transmission. “We need accurate data on the dog population in Rwanda so we can estimate the number of vaccines required,” Mbonigaba said. Rwanda initially aimed to eliminate all deaths caused by rabies by 2024, but the target has now been pushed to 2030. Officials say delays in achieving dog vaccination coverage and limited funding have contributed to the setback. Rabies is one of 21 Neglected Tropical Diseases, a group of infections that disproportionately affect people in low-income communities. Despite its high fatality rate, rabies remains one of the least-funded NTDs.
