XN000022-1975-12-26 — Page 2

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1975

DOG-OWNERS URGED TO HAVE PETS INOCULATED

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DOG-OWNERS MUST HAVE THEIR PETS INOCULATED AGAINST RABIES AT LEAST ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS AND MUST RENEW THE DOG LICENCES EVERY YEAR.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THAT DOGS OVER THE AGE OF THREE MONTHS ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO BE LICENSED AND INOCULATED, AND WHILE IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE DOGS MUST BE PERIODICALLY INOCULATED AGAIN, THEY MUST ALSO BE RE-LICENSED EACH YEAR.

THIS CAN BE DONE AT ANY OF THE FOUR GOVERNMENT KENNELS AT VICTORIA ROAD ON HONG KONG ISLAND, AT SUNG WONG TO ROAD IN KOWLOON, AND AT SHA TIN AND SHEK WU HUI IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

IN ADDITION. A TOTAL OF FIFTEEN LICENSING AND INOCULATION CENTRES ARE RUN BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF DOG-OWNERS. SEVEN OF THEM ARE ON HONG KONG ISLAND, FOUR IN KOWLOON AND FOUR IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

+LICENSING AND INOCULATION FACILITIES ARE ALSO PROVIDED ON SPECIFIED DAYS AT A NUMBER OF PLACES SUCH AS KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS IN URBAN AREAS, AND RURAL ORGANISATIONS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

INOCULATION IS PROVIDED FREE. THE ANNUAL LICENCE FEES ARE $15 FOR A DOG IN THE URBAN AREAS OR ON A LOCAL VESSEL AND $5 IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED DOG-OWNERS THAT THEY MUST REPORT TO THE POLICE IF THEIR DOGS BITE ANYONE.

THIS IS REQUIRED TO ASSIST IN THE DETECTION OF ANY RABIES OUTBREAK SO THAT EARLY PRECAUTIONS CAN BE TAKEN.

FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT AND THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE DOGS INOCULATED AND LICENSED MAY RESULT ON CONVICTION IN A FINE OF UP TO $1,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX MONTHS, THE SPOKESMAN SA ID.

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