As World Rabies Day is commemorated, the Veterinary Service is asking local assemblies to arrest dog owners who fail to vaccinate their animals as they pose a threat to lives in their communities.

The Service is worried that out of 2.5 million dogs in Ghana, only 170,000 have been vaccinated.

The Veterinary Service insists that Ghana can only reach the global target of eradicating rabies deaths if seventy per cent of dogs and cats are vaccinated.

Globally, Rabies, contracted from dogs, cats and monkeys kills some 55 thousand people annually.

Between 2018 and 2024, Ghana recorded over 600 confirmed Rabies outbreaks, with Ashanti, Greater Accra, Upper East, Western and Central regions reporting the highest numbers.

The Ashanti Region recorded 34 positive rabies cases and two deaths between 2020 and 2024.

The commemoration of World Rabies Day was held in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District in the Ashanti Region where a 6-year-old girl died in April this year.

Commiserating with the family, District Health Director Dr Eric Sarpong said it will take a collective effort to prevent yet another rabies death from happening in the country.

Ashanti Regional Director of Veterinary Services Dr Mabel Abudu, observed the nation is still at risk of recording more cases because people are refusing to observe the annual vaccination of their dogs.

She insists until people are arrested under the assemblies’ by-laws on responsible animal keeping; the public will remain reluctant to send their pets for vaccination.

“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 said.

Out of 2.5 million dogs in Ghana, only 176,000 have been vaccinated leaving over 2.3 million dogs roaming unprotected.

National lead of the Animal System Strengthening Project of DEFRA-UK Dr William Adu, points out that until the country vaccinates 70% of this pet population, Ghana cannot meet the Global target to eradicate rabies death by 2030.

Some residents who took advantage of a free pet vaccination exercise shared their knowledge about rabies and how the public can contribute to reducing the risk of deaths in communities.

The World Rabies Day marked annually on September 28, also marks the anniversary of the death of Louis Pasteur – the French chemist and microbiologist, who developed the first rabies vaccine.