In a tragic turn,residents of Hossana,Ethiopia,forced to kill hundreds of dogs after three children died from rabies. Community groups,backed by government,threatened fines,arrests for dog owners,even if pets vaccinated. Panic spread fast.
Mayor Samuel Shigute said community acted because of rabies outbreak,which also hospitalized 80. Witnesses saw owners,against their will,hang or beat pets to death . Some too distraught to do it themselves,handed dogs over.
Graphic images show aftermath — dogs hanging from trees,others lifeless in fields. Though mayor called killings "illegal," he said they weren't sanctioned by his office. "About 70% of Hossana's 10,000 dogs are guards,had rabies shots," he noted.
One resident,who asked to stay anonymous,shared pain over losing his dog,his companion for five years. Couldn't kill it himself,handed it over instead. "I am very saddened by the loss of dog that lived with me for five years and was the pride of our house," he said .
Veterinarian Alaazar Ayele expressed sorrow,estimated 400-450 dogs killed in days. "People dragged dogs out,killed them in shocking ways. This is immoral and unacceptable in religion,culture,and law," he said. Videos show owners in tears,watching pets die.
Rabies is deadly threat to animals,humans,spread through bites or scratches. Once symptoms show in humans,almost always fatal . Vaccination only real preventive for dogs,as no treatment exists once infected.
Local police stopped killings within day,but threat to unvaccinated dogs remains. Feven Melese,animal rights advocate in Addis Ababa,said people still pressuring owners to dispose of unvaccinated pets. Fines of 50,000 birr (around $300) for noncompliance.
In Ethiopia, laws ban public animal killings or unnecessary suffering. Mayor Shigute called for investigation,while Melese urged accountability for those behind orders. "Local government says they did not do it, did not give order. If not,they should hold the criminals accountable," she said.
