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Tag: dogs

  • Over 2.3 million unvaccinated dogs roaming in Ghana – Veterinary Service 

    Over 2.3 million unvaccinated dogs roaming in Ghana – Veterinary Service 

    The Veterinary Service has raised alarm over the low number of vaccinated dogs in Ghana, revealing that only 170,000 out of the estimated 2.5 million dogs in the country have received vaccinations.

    The Service warned that this low vaccination rate poses a serious risk to communities, as unvaccinated dogs can transmit rabies, a fatal disease. To meet the global goal of eradicating rabies deaths, at least 70% of Ghana’s dog and cat populations must be vaccinated.

    Rabies, primarily contracted from dogs, cats, and monkeys, kills around 55,000 people globally each year. From 2018 to 2024, Ghana recorded over 600 confirmed rabies outbreaks, with the Ashanti, Greater Accra, Upper East, Western, and Central regions experiencing the highest numbers.

    Between 2020 and 2024, the Ashanti Region alone recorded 34 positive rabies cases and two deaths. This year’s World Rabies Day was marked in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District, where a 6-year-old girl tragically lost her life to rabies in April.

    District Health Director Dr. Eric Sarpong, speaking at the event, called for a unified effort to prevent future rabies-related deaths in the country.

    Dr. Mabel Abudu, the Ashanti Regional Director of Veterinary Services, highlighted that the country remains at risk due to the public’s reluctance to vaccinate their pets. She urged local assemblies to enforce laws on responsible pet ownership by arresting those who fail to vaccinate their animals.

    “People should be responsible for pets. Once you go for them, you need to budget for them. If you know you can’t take care of them, don’t go for them. Sadly, our animal welfare system isn’t functioning as it should. But once you fail to vaccinate your animal, you should be arrested,” she stated.

  • California: Pit bull breeder’s body found in kennel

    California: Pit bull breeder’s body found in kennel


    A pit bull breeder in California has fatally been attacked by the dogs he was raising, authorities have reported.

    The 35-year-old man’s lifeless body was discovered in a kennel in the backyard of his Compton residence around 7 a.m. on Friday after a concerned friend visited, as reported by KTLA.

    Following a review of surveillance videos from the property’s cameras, investigators determined that the dog attack occurred between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Thursday.

    Michael Gomez from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department stated, “He was feeding the dogs at which point maybe there was an altercation between some of the dogs, and [they] ultimately attacked and mauled the victim.”

    A dog kennel with a white cloth draped over it against a cement brick fence with a dog jumping up against it.
    Officials located the unidentified man’s body inside one of several kennels in the backyard of his home. KTLA 5

    Aerial footage from KTLA revealed a substantial breeding operation for large dogs in the yard. The man’s body was found inside one of the kennels.

    According to CBS News, there were 13 dogs on the property, including five adults and several puppies.

    Several large dog cages in a Compton backyard.
    Aerial footage of the yard appeared to show a sizable breeding operation for large dogs operating from the house. KTLA 5

    “Preliminary information suggests that the deceased individual was involved in breeding and selling Pitbulls,” stated animal control officials. The breeder, who lived alone, succumbed to his injuries.

    His father authorized the transfer of the dogs to Animal Care & Control for impoundment and examination.

    No additional injuries were reported.

  • Man wears 4 diapers daily after sexual encounter with dogs

    Man wears 4 diapers daily after sexual encounter with dogs

    A Nigerian man is appealing for financial assistance to help him resolve a mysterious disease he is currently battling after engaging in bestiality.

    This individual (let’s call him Obi), during an interview with one Rosy, shared that his ordeal all started after deciding to enter a human-dog connection business where he was required to sleep with dogs.

    According to the young man, he only entered into this business to enable him cater for his mother and sister, after their father died and were stripped off their properties by the extended family.

    “It all started in secondary school. It’s not like it was deliberate. I had dreams for myself. But growing up in a house where there is no father and a struggling mother for me and my younger sister. Things were very hard.

    “My uncles, they took everything. They didn’t leave anything. Even our house, they took it. But my mother found another man who she gave a daughter. Living with him was very difficult. He used to beat my mother. He beat her like a thief so she left him.

    “Anything she put her hands on, it didn’t work so when I saw this opportunity, I took it. I looked at my future, I was a very talent artist. I could draw very well. I wanted to further my education and it was just my mother, I could feel her pain. I couldn’t pressure the woman,” he narrated.

    Obi revealed that his friend introduced him to the dog business where he earned 250,000 naira on his first attempt. According to him, he was rest assured there were no side effects. Despite the assurance, he had to be intoxicated to carry out this odd act referred to as bestiality.

    “I had this friend who said they have these people who had this dog business. A human-dog connection business, so if you sleep with the dog, they will give you 250,000 naira. So I followed this friend of mine who assured me that nothing to him. He and his friends had everything.

    “I couldn’t do it while being rational so I had to take alcohol. So the following morning, they gave me the money. That was the first time I was touching anything about 10,000 naira in my life. I was so happy.”

    Upon reaching home, he had to cook up a story to throw his mum off balance.

    “So I took it home and my mother questioned me. She is a Christian so she was worried I was into online fraud. I explained and tried to cover up. I got to further my education but because there was I sponsor I had to continue this act.

    Obi was reached out to again by these friends, who this time round, requested that he allowed the dog penetrate him. During this period, his mom was ill and needed money. He obliged.

    Subsequently, Obi started noticing them he began to emanate an awful smell whenever he sweats or pees. Later, he started observing liquid pouring from his butt side.

    Unfortunately, Obi lost his mum and now battles this mysterious illness which doctors have failed to diagnose. He is currently being taken care of by his sister after his friends who introduced him to the business abandoned him.

    Now, Obi puts on pampers and he wears about 3 or 4 diapers daily depending on the flow of the liquid.

    “Sometimes, I use three or four pampers a day depending on how heavy the leakage is.

    “I need help. Everyday, everytime I am wearing pampers. All these friends who introduced me to this business, none of them is responding to my calls and messages,” Obi pleaded.

  • “I need help”! – Nigerian man battles a mysterious disease after sleeping with dogs to save sick mother

    “I need help”! – Nigerian man battles a mysterious disease after sleeping with dogs to save sick mother

    A Nigerian man is appealing for financial assistance to help him resolve a mysterious disease he is currently battling.

    This individual (let’s call him Obi), during an interview with one Rosy, shared that his ordeal all started after deciding to enter a human-dog connection business where he was required to sleep with dogs.

    According to the young man, he only entered into this business to enable him cater for his mother and sister, after their father died and were stripped of their properties by the extended family.

    “It all started in secondary school. It’s not like it was deliberate. I had dreams for myself. But growing up in a house where there is no father and a struggling mother for me and my younger sister. Things were very hard.

    “My uncles, they took everything. They didn’t leave anything. Even our house, they took it. But my mother found another man who she gave a daughter. Living with him was very difficult. He used to beat my mother. He beat her like a thief so she left him.

    “Anything she put her hands on, it didn’t work so when I saw this opportunity, I took it. I looked at my future, I was a very talent artist. I could draw very well. I wanted to further my education and it was just my mother, I could feel her pain. I couldn’t pressure the woman,” he narrated.

    Obi revealed that his friend introduced him to the dog business where he earned 250,000 naira on his first attempt. According to him, he was rest assured there were no side effects. Despite the assurance, he had to be intoxicated to carry out this odd act referred to as bestiality.

    “I had this friend who said they have these people who had this dog business. A human-dog connection business, so if you sleep with the dog, they will give you 250,000 naira. So I followed this friend of mine who assured me that nothing to him. He and his friends had everything.

    “I couldn’t do it while being rational so I had to take alcohol. So the following morning, they gave me the money. That was the first time I was touching anything about 10,000 naira in my life. I was so happy.”

    Upon reaching home, he had to cook up a story to throw his mum off balance.

    “So I took it home and my mother questioned me. She is a Christian so she was worried I was into online fraud. I explained and tried to cover up. I got to further my education but because there was I sponsor I had to continue this act.

    Obi was reached out to again by these friends, who this time round, requested that he allowed the dog penetrate him. During this period, his mom was ill and needed money. He obliged.

    Subsequently, Obi started noticing them he began to emanate an awful smell whenever he sweats or pees. Later, he started observing liquid pouring from his butt side.

    Unfortunately, Obi lost his mum and now battles this mysterious illness which doctors have failed to diagnose. He is currently being taken care of by his sister after his friends who introduced him to the business abandoned him.

    Now, Obi puts on pampers and he wears about 3 or 4 diapers daily depending on the flow of the liquid.

    “Sometimes, I use three or four pampers a day depending on how heavy the leakage is.

    “I need help. Everyday, everytime I am wearing pampers. All these friends who introduced me to this business, none of them is responding to my calls and messages,” Obi pleaded.

  • Sniffer dogs explore scene of terrible Johannesburg fire for bodies

    Sniffer dogs explore scene of terrible Johannesburg fire for bodies

    Most of the emergency services teams have departed from the scene of one of South Africa’s deadliest fires, which engulfed a Johannesburg building on Thursday.

    On Friday, police sniffer dogs were deployed to scour through the charred remains of the dilapidated structure in search of any remaining bodies.

    The devastating fire, which occurred in a condemned five-story block, resulted in the tragic loss of 74 lives, with most victims suffering extensive burns that necessitate DNA testing for identification.

    Authorities estimate that around 200 people were residing in the illegal housing created within the abandoned building.

    While household fires are a common occurrence in Johannesburg, particularly in impoverished areas where candles and hazardous paraffin stoves are often used for lighting and cooking, Thursday’s blaze has underscored the city’s housing crisis.

    Beyond the cordoned-off area, several survivors with visible injuries like head wounds and fractures await assistance.

    Meanwhile, alongside the relatives of the deceased, some individuals have commenced the somber process of identifying their beloved family members at a nearby mortuary.

    The exact cause of the fire remains a mystery, but forensic investigators were also present at the site on Friday, meticulously examining the scorched remnants of the structure.

  • 615 rabies cases recorded since 2020 – GHS

    615 rabies cases recorded since 2020 – GHS

    Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, has revealed that the country has witnessed 615 cases of rabies infections among individuals, resulting in 72 fatalities, from 2020 to 2023.

    Dr Asiedu-Bekoe disclosed this at the launch of a National Rabies Prevention Campaign by the Vertinary Services Division of the GHS and its partners.

    “The data from the DHMIS on suspected cases of rabies has shown an increase from 119 with 24 deaths in 2020 to 140 with 12 deaths in 2021, 203 with 26 deaths in 2022 and so far, 153 with 10 deaths in 2023.”

    “Dog bite, which is a good proxy for rabies has also seen a similar trend with 15,296 cases in 2020, 16,364 cases in 2021, 16,644 cases in 2022 and 6,701 cases so far in 2023,” he said.

    The launch was on the theme: “Prevent the Bite or Scratch! Vaccinate Your Dog! Stop Rabies Now!”

    Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe highlighted the concerning increase in rabies cases from 2020, with the majority of infections recorded in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Eastern, and Upper East regions of Ghana.

    He further noted that a significant proportion of rabies-related deaths occurred in children under the age of 15.

    Ghana has responded to the global initiative of eliminating dog-mediated human rabies by 2030. To support this goal, the country has implemented a National Rabies Control and Prevention Action Plan for the period of 2018-2030. This plan serves as a roadmap for achieving the target.

    However, Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe revealed that the country’s progress in implementing the action plan has been hindered by various challenges.

    These include recurrent outbreaks of public health diseases, inadequate sustainable funding for public health, low vaccination coverage of dogs, and the presence of stray dogs.

    Despite these challenges, Ghana has made notable progress in enhancing risk communication activities, raising awareness among healthcare workers, and adopting a stepwise approach towards rabies elimination. This approach helps identify gaps and develop strategies to address them.

    On his part, Registrar of the Veterinary Council of Ghana, Dr. Kingsley Mickey Aryee, stated that the vaccination coverage of dogs in the country is alarmingly low, with only 8.5 percent of dogs being vaccinated nationwide.

    He emphasized the urgent need for increased awareness campaigns and sensitization to encourage dog owners, particularly those with stray dogs, to annually vaccinate their pets. This proactive approach is essential to curbing the spread of rabies and ultimately eradicating the disease in Ghana.

    Dr. Aryee highlighted that rabies is a significant cause of preventable deaths worldwide, with a majority of fatalities occurring in developing nations.

    Rabies is a viral disease that affects the nervous system and is commonly transmitted through bites or scratches from infected dogs. However, other animals like cats, bats, and foxes can also transmit the disease, particularly in areas where it is not endemic.

    The symptoms of rabies can vary and may include fever, headache, excessive salivation, hydrophobia (fear of water), muscle spasms, paralysis, mental confusion, and ultimately, death. The onset of symptoms can vary depending on the location of the bite.

    Efforts to raise awareness about the importance of dog vaccination and the prevention of rabies are crucial in safeguarding public health and reducing the incidence of this deadly disease.

  • Dog culling in Twifo Atti-morkwa; Over 200 dogs killed

    Dog culling in Twifo Atti-morkwa; Over 200 dogs killed

    The Environmental Health Department of the Twifo Atti-Morkwa District Assembly in the Central Region has initiated a large-scale operation to cull dogs on the main street of Twifo Praso, resulting in the death of more than 200 dogs within the community.

    According to Emmanuel Forson, the Environmental Health Officer at the Twifo Atti-Morkwa District Assembly, the objective of the exercise was to address the issue of numerous stray dogs roaming the streets of Twifo Praso, which posed a significant threat to human lives and other vulnerable animals in the area.

    Mr Forson highlighted the concerning behavior of these stray dogs, including their tendency to hunt and kill other animals such as guinea fowls and turkeys, as well as their unprovoked aggression towards people on the streets.

    Additionally, the indiscriminate defecation by these dogs posed potential health risks to the local population.

    In an interview with Kasapa News, Mr Forson emphasized the importance of dog owners vaccinating their pets against rabies on an annual basis and restraining them appropriately.

    He stated that the department would continue the culling exercise until full compliance with the law is observed by the residents of Twifo Atti-Morkwa District.

    Upon learning about the operation, many residents have taken measures to protect their dogs, either by hiding them or sending them to neighboring communities outside the district to prevent them from being culled by the assembly.

  • Mexico’s seasoned dogs join Turkey’s rescue mission

    Mexico’s seasoned dogs join Turkey’s rescue mission

    A group of 16 search and rescue dogs from Mexico, an earthquake-prone nation, is set to travel to Turkey.

    When the dogs combed through the wreckage of the earthquake that devastated Mexico City and the surrounding areas in 2017, killing hundreds of people, the dogs won the hearts of the Mexican people.

    The most well-known of them, Frida, a golden lab wearing safety goggles and booties who saved 12 people throughout her career, passed away three months ago due to old age.

    However, some of the more seasoned dogs who worked with Frida in 2017 are now a part of the group, including Ecko.

    Ecko is part of the team flying to Turkey

    Mexico’s Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard tweeted photos of the canines lying on the tarmac just before take-off.

    Mexico’s deadliest earthquake happened in 1985, when at least 5,000 people were killed in the capital and its surroundings.

  • Ghana police deploy officers with K9 dogs to ensure security, safety

    Some officers of the Ghana Police Service have been deployed with their K9 dogs to ensure the security strategy for the festive season and beyond.

    In a statement, the Police said this initiative is to ensure safety for all across the country.

    “The K9 Unit of the Ghana Police Service has deployed its officers with their K9 dogs to ensure the security and safety of commuters on our roads, as part of our grand security strategy for this festive season and beyond, as we work toward ensuring the safety of all.”

    K9, is a term used to describe canines or dogs assigned to the police unit.

    K9’s are trained to assist police and other law enforcement officers to among other things, search for drugs and explosives, locate missing people, find crime scene evidence, protect people, and sometimes to attack criminals who are fleeing from or attacking police officers.

  • Dogs in costumes parade through Lagos

    Dog owners flocked to Nigeria’s economic capital of Lagos to display their canines at the weekend’s fourth annual canine carnival.

    According to the Reuters news agency, the dogs on show came out beautifully groomed and in fancy dress.

    Dog dressed up
    Copyright: Reuters

    The aim was to break stereotypes that Africans mistreat their pets, Reuters says quoting organiser Jackie Idimogu.

    “I have been able to make humans understand that dogs are not for guards, like they are not just to be kept at the gate or outside the compound,” she said.

    Dog dressed up
    Copyright: Reuters

    Pasha (above) – dressed in sunglasses and an outfit to match the owner’s – was named dog of the year.

    Dogs on the red carpet

  • Family dogs kill 2 Tennessee children, injure mom

    Two young children are dead and their mother suffered major injuries after two family dogs attacked a baby and toddler outside their West Tennessee home.

    The mauling took place outside of the family’s Memphis-area home on Thursday, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reported.

    Kirstie Bennard, 30, suffered critical injuries when she tried to intervene in the attack on her 5-month-old boy, Hollace Dean, and 2-year-old girl, Lilly Jane, family and police said.

    “She put her body on top of Lilly’s to try and protect her after the attack started,” Bennard’s uncle by marriage, Jeff Gibson told USA TODAY on Saturday. “Both (dogs) started attacking her while she lay on Lilly.”

    The two children were pronounced dead when officials arrived at the home, the sheriff’s office reported.

    Their mother was taken to a local hospital in critical condition, officials said.

    Gibson said his nephew, Colby Bennard, was not home when the attack took place.

    It was not immediately known what provoked the mauling.

    John Morris, the public information officer for the sheriff’s office, told USA TODAY Saturday the case remained an ongoing and active investigation. He did not say whether charges were pending in the case.

    Kirstie Bennard, 30, suffered critical injuries when she tried to pull their family's dogs off of her 5-month-old boy and 2-year-old girl. Both children died in the Oct. 6, 2022 attack in West Tennessee.
    Kirstie Bennard, 30, suffered critical injuries when she tried to pull their family’s dogs off of her 5-month-old boy and 2-year-old girl. Both children died in the Oct. 6, 2022 attack in West Tennessee.

    The mauling, Gibson said, lasted about 10 minutes.

    Gibson wrote on Facebook Bennard suffered “uncountable amount of stitches and bite marks over her entire body, including her face.” He also posted a link to a fundraiser created by family friends on Friday to help the family.

    The dogs – two pit bulls that belonged to the family – were euthanized at Memphis Animal Services Thursday.

    The family owned the pets, Cheech and Mia, for more than eight years without a violent incident, Kelsey Canfield, the mother’s best friend, told Fox News.

    “I can promise you those children were her world, and if there was any inkling of danger, she would have never had those dogs near her kids,” Canfield told the outlet. “Those children were everything to them, and they just have a really long journey ahead.”

    Source: Yahoo.com

     

  • Tema District Court fines a dog keeper GHù‚”5,000

    The Tema District Community Centre Court has fined Essien Terry, a dog keeper GHù‚”5,000 for rearing dogs for commercial purposes in a residential area without a permit from the Tema Metropolitan Assembly.

    The court presided over by Mr. Festus Fovi Nukunu, slapped the fine on Terry on his plea of guilty to three counts: unauthorized keeping of dogs in dwelling house, keeping of animals on-premises, and non-compliance with an abatement notice.

    The court also gave Terry one month to relocate the dogs from the residential area, after pleading with the court, and was to report back on June 22.

    Prosecutor Saudatu Issaka, the Environmental Health Analyst said Terry was a resident of Tema Community.

    According to the prosecution, sometime in February this year, a complaint was made to the Environmental Health Office by some residents in the community about the rearing of dogs and cats on a large scale by the accused.

    The residents claimed that it was causing nuisance such as offensive odour and noise among others.

    The prosecution told the court that on February 18, 2022, a team of Environmental Health officers inspected the place and found that the accused had a big cage housing about 10 dogs and cats believed to be on a commercial basis.

    The accused was given a brief education and a notice was served to him to remove them from the house to a more convenient place, but he failed and was subsequently charged to appear and answer before the court.

    Source: Ghanaweb via GNA

  • Coronavirus: Dogs being trained to sniff out virus

    A British charity has teamed up with scientists to see whether dogs could help detect COVID-19 through their keen sense of smell, they said on Friday.

    Medical Detection Dogs will work with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Durham University in northeast England to determine whether canines could help diagnoses.

    It follows previous research into dogs’ ability to sniff out malaria and is based on a belief that each disease triggers a distinct odour.

    The organisations said they had begun preparations to train dogs in six weeks “to help provide a rapid, non-invasive diagnosis towards the tail end of the epidemic”.

    The charity has previously trained dogs to detect diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s and bacterial infections by sniffing samples taken from patients.

    They can also detect subtle changes in skin temperature, potentially making them useful to determining if a person has a fever.

    “In principle, we’re sure that dogs could detect COVID-19,” said Claire Guest, founder and chief executive of Medical Detection Dogs.

    “We are now looking into how we can safely catch the odour of the virus from patients and present it to the dogs.

    “The aim is that dogs will be able to screen anyone, including those who are asymptomatic, and tell us whether they need to be tested.

    “This would be fast, effective and non-invasive and make sure the limited NHS (National Health Service) testing resources are only used where they are really needed.”

    The head of disease control at the LSHTM said dogs could detect malaria with “extremely high accuracy” and, as other respiratory diseases changed body odour, there was a “very high chance” it could also work with COVID-19.

    Detection dogs could be deployed at airports at the end of the epidemic to rapidly identify people carrying the virus, helping prevent the re-emergence of the disease, according to Steve Lindsay from Durham University.

    Over 500,000 coronavirus infections have now been recorded across 182 countries, contributing to 22,920 deaths, according to an AFP calculation based on official country data and World Health Organization figures.

    The number of actual infections is believed to be higher since many countries are only testing severe cases or patients requiring hospitalisation.

    Source: France24

  • Pregnant woman killed by dogs in France during hunt in the area

    A pregnant woman was killed by dogs in forest land in northern France while a hunt with hounds was happening in the area, investigators have said.

    The body of the 29-year-old, who was walking her own dogs, was discovered near the town of Villers-CotterÃÂȘts.

    She died after “several dog bites to the upper and lower limbs and the head,” prosecutor Frederic Trinh said.

    Read:Sniffer dogs deployed at KIA in new GRA search exercise

    Tests on 93 dogs were being carried out in an attempt to establish which of the dogs were responsible for the attack.

    Five dogs belonging to the woman were among those being tested.

    An autopsy showed that the victim suffered dog bites to the head, torso and arms. Police said they had opened a manslaughter investigation.

    Read:Stray dogs bite 5 children in Keta

    According to the prosecutor’s office, the woman telephoned her husband to say she was worried that a pack of dogs were about to attack her. He later found her body, reportedly after following the distressed cries of her dogs.

    The pack of hounds was hunting deer, the local newspaper Le Courrier Picard reported.

    The actor Brigitte Bardot, who is president of an animal welfare foundation, called on French authorities to immediately suspend “all hunt authorisation for this season”.

    Read:1,200 dogs vaccinated on rabies day

    The French hunting association said in a statement that there was no evidence of “the involvement of hunting hounds in the death of this woman”.

    Source: bbc.com