Simpson Muyambi
Residents of Rutenga Town Council in Kanungu District are living in fear due to the presence of stray dogs that are causing significant losses by attacking and killing their animals. This situation has also raised concerns about the safety of the residents themselves.
Catherine Ampumuza, a resident of the Northern Ward in Rutenga Town Council, shared her distress over the menace of these stray dogs.
She emphasized the danger posed by these dogs, particularly the fact that they often move in groups of 3 to 6. Catherine recounted a recent incident in which the dogs infiltrated her property during the night, resulting in the brutal killing of 4 of her sheep.
In addition, they attacked and killed approximately 10 sheep from neighboring properties, amounting to a total of 14 sheep lost in a single night.
Catherine is now facing significant financial losses as a result of these attacks and urgently appealed to the relevant authorities for assistance.
Furthermore, Catherine expressed concerns about the safety of the residents, as there is uncertainty about whether these dogs have been vaccinated against diseases.
Damiano Turinawe, the veterinary officer of Rutenga Town Council, urged the community to promptly report such incidents to the appropriate authorities.
He also stressed the importance of dog owners ensuring that their pets are vaccinated and securely restrained during the night to prevent such incidents from occurring and to safeguard the well-being of both the dogs and the community.
