Stray dogs worry Kimironko residents

KIMIRONKO - Residents in Intwari Village in Kimironko Sector have decried the rising number of stray dogs in the area. Barking packs of stray dogs prowl the neighborhoods, mainly in the evening and early morning in search of food or mating. Residents of the Intwari neighbourhood are worried of the spread of rabies as most of the dogs are not vaccinated against the disease, which can be fatal to humans. Their noisy barking and howling is also menace to the communities. Village leaders have pledged to find an immediate solution to the problem, with the help of higher authorities and the police. Identifying the dogs’ owners, if there are any, would be the first step. However, if the dogs have no owners, culling them would be a likely option. The Deputy Director General of the Rwanda Animal Resources Development Authority (RARDA), Christine Kanyandekwe, acknowledges the problem saying that it was not limited to Intwari village. “Those must be remnants from our previous operations. I have also heard of cases in parts of Gaculiro (Kigali), and we are planning other operations to eliminate them,” Kanyandekwe said. Kanyandekwe said that during an operation jointly mounted by RARDA, Police and local authorities about five months ago, over 90 dogs were culled. “We conducted operations at night, especially in areas where the dogs gather to feed in all parts of the city. Kanyandekwe noted that the menace of stray dogs is as a result of owners who neither feed nor properly look after their animals. “As we conduct operations, we also want to sensitise dog owners to keep their pets at home.” Kigali City authorities say they are aware of the problem. Bruno Rangira, the Director of Communication at Kigali City, noted that he has heard of “isolated incidents” but stressed that whenever cases of stray dogs are brought up, it is taken up as a security and health priority. “When people inform us, we assess the problem. If it requires eliminating them, in the case of stray dogs, or cautioning owners to control them. We are going to act, he said”. Ends

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Stray dogs worry Kimironko residents