Bulawayo officials shoot 160 dogs in bid to stop spread of rabies

Officials in Bulawayo have shot 160 stray dogs in a campaign to curb the spread of rabies, it was reported on Wednesday.

The authorities are pressing on with "Operation Tie Up Order", despite an outcry from animal welfare activists.

"We've shot a total of 160 dogs and we hope to shoot more stray dogs," Edwin Sibanda, a senior health official in the Bulawayo City Council, told the Chronicle newspaper.

"We had stopped this operation due to a shortage of bullets but we've resumed work. We realise that we now have a few stray dogs in the city which is good," he said.

Animal rights activists have criticised the use of firearms to curb the stray dog problem. They say dogs should be humanely trapped and euthanised, and that using firearms in public places is a danger to residents.