Hossana Residents Kill 400 Dogs After 3 Rabies Deaths as Ethiopia Probes Threats and Fines
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jul 2
Hossana Residents Kill 400 Dogs After 3 Rabies Deaths as Ethiopia Probes Threats and Fines
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jul 2
Summary
An estimated 400 to 450 dogs were killed in Hossana within days after community groups ordered residents to put down their animals following rabies deaths.
Three children died from dog bites and 80 other people were hospitalized, triggering the crackdown even though the mayor said about 70% of the town's 10,000 dogs had been vaccinated.
Residents told the BBC they were threatened with arrest and fines of 50,000 birr ($300) if they refused, and some dogs were hanged, beaten or handed over to be killed.
Mayor Samuel Shigute called the killings illegal, said police halted the mass cull within a day and ordered an investigation, though a local vet and an animal-rights activist said pressure to remove unvaccinated dogs continues.
The episode has exposed a clash between rabies fears and animal-protection law in Ethiopia, where public and cruel killing of animals is illegal.