The Kennel Association, is making a case for improved care for dogs and the vaccination of dogs to prevent the spread of rabbies.
It is a group of individuals in Bolgatanga who own foreign breeds of dogs and have therefore, decided to form the association to create awareness about the need for the promotion of the welfare of dogs, vaccination and the benefits of keeping dogs.
In this part of the world, dogs are mostly kept by their owners in various homes with very little attention and training. Many of the local breeds are often sold for consumption.
However, most of the dogs are not vaccinated to prevent the spread of rabies due to dog bites and this poses a significant health threat. In the Upper East Region, it has been reported that seven people have died from rabies out of nine suspected cases in 2024.
Emerging as a group with a current membership of about 50, the Kennel Association is worried about the situation.
In a bid to create awareness about the need to improve the care for dogs and for the regular vaccination of dogs, members of the association embarked on a walk with their dogs on Saturday November 9, 2024.
The walk started from the craft village through library to the VAG Hall in Bolgatanga.
Members of the group were subsequently educated on how to cater for their dogs, detect discomfort, and to train them to be security sensitive, to be gentle and not be hostile to everyone especially people with no malicious intent.
Jonathan Atuah, one of the Convenors of the Kennel Association, explained that the rising cases of rabies prompted the formation of the group.
He adds that a critical part of the group’s focus is a the need for improved care for dogs.
“Our main focus is to see how we can reduce rabies in the upper east region and also to sort of understand the relationships we can build with our dogs,” he stated.
A Veterinary Officer at Regional office of the Vertinary Service, Eric Agongo Akugre outlined various diseases including rabies that should be of concern to dog owners.
“Some of the diseases that are common in dogs include the rabies, which is very popular, we have another one called kenan distemper, we have kenan papilloma and we have parvoviruses. These are very common in our region. But there’s a vaccine that can take care of the five at once. It is called pentovac,” he stated.
He says dog owners must cater for the needs of their dogs and duly vaccinate them against rabies.
“For us to be able to stay away from troubles, let’s make sure that our dogs are well trained are taken care of in terms of health, they are given shelter. I know here we don’t believe that we are supposed to shelter our dogs. Anywhere they reach, they sleep. But with this association I believe we’re going to change that”.
Raphael Adeliyine Nsoh Anaba, who has trained his dog to behave as he desires, is calling on individuals to train their dogs to tame them.
