BMA on alert against pet rabies

BANGKOK, August 7 (TNA) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has remained on alert against pet rabies, after members of a family in the capital were bitten by a pet rabbit infected with the virus. Accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives' Department of Livestock Development, Deputy Bangkok Governor Dr. Malinee Sukavejworakit visited pet shops at the Chatuchak Plaza shopping center in the capital Tuesday. Malinee said she told pet stores to have their animals vaccinated for free at 68 veterinarian and public health service offices across the city. The move aims to create proper understanding and awareness among pet sellers on their safe and rabies-free trade. According to the deputy governor, concerned agencies will also revise Thailand's Animal Epidemics Act B.E.2499 and B.E. 2542 within three months, to include rabbits and other warm-blooded animals into the enforcement of the laws, partly pertaining to common animal carriers of rabies. Meanwhile, a group of pet lovers and animal rights campaigners in Thailand gathered outside the South Korean Embassy in Bangkok Tuesday to demand for a stop in dog and cat eating habits in South Korea. They argued that have been domesticated and deserve decent treatment and care from humans. The animal rights activists also plan to rally at the Chinese and Vietnamese Embassies in Bangkok for a similar protest. (TNA)