NDOLA City Council has embarked on a registration exercise of all the dogs to prevent an outbreak of rabies, a deadly viral infection that is mainly spread through the bite of infected animals.

Council Public Relations Manager Roy Kuseka said in an interview yesterday that the exercise was in conformity with the provisions of the control of dogs Act, chapter 247 which states that all dogs should be vaccinated against the disease and registered.

"We are taking a proactive stance to protect the public from an outbreak of rabies and we are appealing to all dog owners to have their pets vaccinated by the veterinary department," he said.

He said the dogs could be taken to the council health department on Broadway while the council would soon open centres in townships where pets could be vaccinated and registered.

Mr Kuseka said people from high cost residential areas were expected to pay K45,000, those in medium cost, K35,000 and K25,000 for low costs with K10,000 out of the total cost going towards a dog tag.

He said the exercise which started this month was expected to go on for sometime and those who fail to have their dogs taken for registration will have their animals destroyed by the authorities.

Mr Kuseka said there will be a surcharge of K60,000 for those owning more than two dogs as required by the law.