Tetu residents say increased stray dogs posing danger

Residents of Mung’aria Sub-Location in Tetu, Nyeri County have complained of an increase in the number of stray dogs.

On Tuesday, they called on veterinary officers to kill all stray dogs roaming the area which they say are posing great danger to their children and livestock.

One of the residents Anne Wangui Kanyingi, said she has lost over 10 goats and sheep from her homestead to the dogs since December 2013.

Ms Kanyingi said about seven dogs roaming the village on Monday afternoon ambushed and killed three of her goats and two sheep as they grazed while she was attending to her seven month old baby.

“I was feeding my baby at around noon when my neighbour who was working at his farm heard the goats and sheep bleating.

Upon checking, he saw a pack of dogs mauling the animals leaving them for dead,” she said.

“We later tried to find the dogs in order to kill them but all was in vain.

We wanted to kill them because they have been terrorising our goats and sheep for close to a year now and nothing has been done about it.

The vets should poison those beasts because they could harm our children,” added Ms Kanyingi.

She expressed fears that the dogs could be infested with rabies saying it was unusual for normal domestic dogs to make rounds killing other animals.

At the same time, the residents said they have been spotting young men with hunter dogs in the village but their motives were unclear as there is no forest around the area for hunting.

However, efforts to question them about their activities have so far been unsuccessful, the residents said.

“We have been seeing boys here with hunter dogs claiming they are hunting for squirrels yet there is no forest here.

The dogs are instead killing our animals for meat and they could be infested with rabies and we fear our children are not safe anymore when left alone at home.

We have tried to question these boys but they have been very uncooperative,” Ms Kanyingi said.

She noted they have lost goats and sheep worth about Sh50,000.

Speaking at the homestead, Tetu District Commissioner Herman Shambi said he is having talks with the relevant authorities and the district veterinary officer in order to have the stray dogs poisoned.

He asked residents who have dogs should ensure they are vaccinated against rabies.

“I have instructed the area chief to summon the boys spotted with the dogs for further questioning on their motive and I am already in talks with the veterinary officers to make sure these dogs are poisoned to death because once they become wild they will continue to cause havoc,” said Mr Shambi.