Kelantan authorities captured 36 stray dogs, including where boy, 8, was mauled

KOTA BARU: Local councils in the state have captured 36 stray dogs this year, with most of the animals rounded up in Bachok, including the Kemasin area where an 8-year-old boy was recently attacked.

State Local Government, Housing, Health and Environment Committee chairman Hilmi Abdullah said the operations were carried out between January and last week.

"The local authorities had intensified efforts to address the stray dog problem, particularly in areas where such animals had been reported to pose a threat to the public.

"As of October, 36 stray dogs have been captured.

"Most of them were caught in Bachok, including Kemasin and other surrounding areas.

"Some of the dogs were captured while the rest had entered the traps," he said.

The 8-year-old boy was injured after being attacked by more than five stray dogs while playing at Pantai Kuala Kemasin in Bachok on Thursday.

The boy sustained injuries to his head, neck and hand in the incident and underwent surgery to treat his wounds.

It was reported today that the boy will also be given anti-rabies injections to prevent infection.

His mother, Rosnani Mat Salleh, 46, said the vaccination was part of a multi-week follow-up treatment plan for her son, Azuar Firdaus Zuraiman, following a five-hour surgery yesterday.