Right now authorities on the island of Bali, Indonesia, are killing dogs in the street. In a kneejerk reaction to six suspected human rabies fatalities, the government has started culling dogs in a misguided attempt to stop the spread of the disease.
So far over 1,000 dogs have died – many are being poisoned with strychnine, which leaves the animals fully conscious while they suffer convulsions and eventually suffocate.
As a tourist hot spot Bali cannot afford to lose its ‘rabies-free’ status. However, the Balinese government’s response to this suspected outbreak is ineffective as well as inhumane – a dog cull does not attack the root cause of the disease and cannot safeguard human health.
Take Action – Sign an online letter to the Balinese governor, asking him to end the cull and adopt a humane approach to rabies prevention that will protect both animals and people.
source: WSPA Australia
