The government of Oyo State is urging individuals who own dogs and cats within the state to ensure they are protected against the dangerous rabies disease by getting them vaccinated.
During an event commemorating the 2024 World Rabies Day in Ibadan, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye, emphasized the importance of this vaccination initiative.
He stressed the necessity for all pet owners to promptly vaccinate their dogs and cats by visiting veterinary centers in the state.
The Commissioner highlighted that regular vaccination of pets, at least once a year, is crucial in preventing the transmission of rabies to humans.
He emphasized that through research it has been established that human deaths caused by rabies can be entirely prevented by ensuring timely vaccination of dogs and cats.
Additionally, Mr. Olaleye pointed out that it is a violation of the Oyo State Dog Law 2019 to allow dogs to roam freely without supervision, hence urging the public to confine their pets within designated areas and ensure they are vaccinated regularly.
Furthermore, he mentioned that the state government has implemented comprehensive measures to effectively manage rabies and other zoonotic diseases.
“having discovered that over 70 per cent of infectious diseases in humans originate from animals.”
Olaleye Cautioned that refusal to vaccinate dogs and pets annually “is an offence against the Oyo State Dog Law 2019, with N250,000 fines or six months imprisonment or both.
