Responsible dog ownership is central to eliminating rabies, especially in regions where private vaccination rates remain critically low.
Rabies continues to pose a major threat to both canine and human health in many African regions. In this opinion piece, Mpolya underscores the vital role of responsible dog ownership in achieving sufficient vaccination coverage to eliminate the disease. Despite the fact that 99% of dogs in the referenced study were owned, a mere 3% had been privately vaccinated.
The low vaccination rate was found to be associated with factors like poverty, high housing density, and the status of the dog—especially if it was male, a puppy, or in a reproductive state. On the other hand, neutered dogs and those whose owners were more informed about pet health showed higher vaccination rates.
The study suggests that education and public health messaging targeting dog owners—especially in low-income areas—could significantly boost rabies prevention efforts. Ownership must be paired with responsibility, including the financial and temporal investment needed to ensure pets are vaccinated and well cared for.
