In most cases, unvaccinated dogs cannot survive rabies (file photo)

🌐 Here's What Happened

Residents of an Ethiopian town have been forced to kill hundreds of their own dogs after three children died from rabies.

Powerful community groups in the central town of Hossana told residents they would be fined and arrested if they did not kill their dogs, even if the animals had been vaccinated for rabies, residents told the BBC.

The community groups issued the orders after children, aged 6, 8 and 14, died from dog bites and 80 other people were hospitalised, local mayor Samuel Shigute said.

📌 Key Details

Eyewitnesses told the BBC that after the order was imposed, some reluctant owners hanged their dogs or beat them to death.

The community associations behind the directive are affiliated with the local government, but Mayor Samuel called the dog killings "illegal" and told the BBC they were not ordered by his administration.

Samuel said the animals were killed even though roughly 70% of Hossana's 10,000 dogs were guard dogs which had been vaccinated for rabies.

Local vet Alaazar Kebede told the BBC he was "deeply saddened" by the deaths.

"We estimate that 400 to 450 dogs were killed in just a few days," he said

"People dragged dogs out and killed them in shocking ways. This is immoral and unacceptable in religion, culture, and law. Videos show owners crying as their dogs were killed."

📰 Source: BBC Africa