KUCHING: The Kuching South City Council (MBKS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) to implement the state’s first Capture, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Return (CNVR) pilot programme for community dogs and cats in Kuching South.

The agreement, formalised during the Rabies in Borneo 2025 Conference, marks a milestone in Sarawak’s ongoing efforts to curb rabies and manage the stray animal population humanely.

The initiative follows the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak’s (DVSS) guidelines and the Local Authorities (Dog Licensing and Control) By-Laws 2018, focusing on public safety and community wellbeing.

MBKS Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng urged pet owners to practise responsible ownership by ensuring their animals are vaccinated and, in the case of dogs, properly licensed as required under existing regulations.

He emphasised that community cooperation is vital in breaking the rabies transmission cycle and ensuring the programme’s long-term success.

The CNVR programme will be carried out in phases across selected areas within Kuching South.

It aims to stabilise the stray population through humane control methods while complementing the state’s broader rabies eradication strategy.

The initiative will undergo a one-year review to assess its impact and effectiveness in reducing stray numbers and strengthening rabies prevention measures, paving the way for potential expansion across other local councils in Sarawak. -UKASnews