Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) has launched a campaign to vaccinate more than 15,000 stray dogs to keep city residents protected from rabies.

CCC Mayor Dr. Sahadat Hossain inaugurated the programme in front of the Divisional Commissioner office yesterday (4 January).

Considering the environmental and legal issues, CCC has applied for humane and scientific methods instead of culling dogs to address the growing concern over stray dog and its danger. Under the scheduled six-day campaign of this month, the vulnerable dogs across the city’s 41 wards will be vaccinated.

While inaugurating, Mayor Sahadat said they are working to build Chattogram into a clean, green, healthy and safe city,” sharing the public concern over the increased number of stray dogs and its risk.

“Herd immunity is achieved when at least 70 percent of dogs in an area can be vaccinated, which effectively stops the spread of the rabies virus,” he said, adding that killing dogs is not a sustainable solution.

Addressing the ways to prevent the rabies, he highlighted common warning signs in rabid dogs, including excessive salivation, aimless running and a tendency to bite.

Urging people to be kind to animals, the mayor suggested not disturbing dogs while eating or sleeping and to avoid running away or throwing stones at them.

CCC Acting Chief Executive Officer and Secretary Mohammad Ashraful Amin, Chief Health Officer Mohammad Imam Hossain Rana, Chattogram Bar Association President Abdus Sattar, General Secretary Hasan Ali Chowdhury, and senior city officials, among others, were present there.