KUCHING: Three persons have been compounded for their failure to effectively control their dogs in rabies-infected areas.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said the authority would not hesitate to take action against those caught breaking the law.
The first offender, a 22-year-old man, was found to have breached the law at a residential area in Demak Laut.
The second offender, a 65-year-old-man was found committing the offence at Lintang Park, Kuching, and the third individual, a woman, 34, came from Lorong Kepayang, Kuching.
All three were compounded RM250 each.
Uggah called on all pet owners to ensure their dogs are confined within their house compound, and given anti-rabies vaccination.
Failure to do so is an offence under Section 40 of the Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999 which carries a fine not exceeding RM2,500 while the dogs found roaming would be roped in if there is no proof of the anti-rabies vaccination.
Uggah, who is also chairman of Sarawak Disaster Management Relief committee, said the special operation carried out in Kuching was completed yesterday, with about 70 per cent of the estimated 40,000 dogs having been vaccinated, so far.
The special operation started in Bau and Lundu, followed by Padawan and Kota Samarahan.
He said the operation would be carried out statewide, and would be headed by the police at the district level.
A press conference will be held tomorrow after a post mortem meeting of the special operation.