Kedah may seek Thailand's assistance in curbing influx of wild dogs

The Kedah government is considering seeking Thailand's cooperation in curbing the influx of wild dogs from the country into the state along their common border.

State local government, water supply, water resources, energy, and non-governmental bodies committee chairman, Datuk Badrol Hisham Hashim said the assistance was needed to prevent worsening of the rabies outbreak in Kedah.

"If necessary, we will ask for help from Thailand and hold discussions with them. This is because of the close proximity between Kedah and Thailand and dogs from there enter here and vice-versa," he told reporters at Kampung Mani here, today.

He said the local authorities (PBTd) in Kedah had also been ordered to act more aggressively in tackling the rabies epidemic including ensuring that dog owners in the state have a licence to keep the animal as pets.

He added that as dogs, especially wild dogs breed easily, there were fears that the outbreak of rabies would spread and become more serious.

As of Sept 20, the Kedah Health Department has recorded 18 incidents of dog bites in the state, with two of the cases involving rabid dogs.