Dr Emmanuel Pecku, the Tema Metro Veterinary Officer, has urged dog owners to be responsible by caring for their dogs as one of the measures to prevent the spread of rabies. Dr Pecku, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said dog owners must follow the five freedoms for humane treatment of their animals to ensure the welfare of their pets. He said the five freedoms included: freedom from hunger and thirst, discomfort, pain, injury, disease, to express normal behaviour, and freedom from fear and distress. He reminded pet owners that the five freedoms formed the foundation for responsible dog ownership, adding that dogs with responsible owners were typically less of a problem to members of the community. The Officer explained that such dogs were less of a problem to the community because they were healthier and often vaccinated, easily controlled by their owner, less likely to bite people, and less likely to fight with other animals. Dr Pecku reminded dog owners to participate in the upcoming free anti-rabies vaccination between September 27 and 28, to help in the fight against rabies and help protect the community and their families. Miss Roberta Naa Karley Quaye, a team member of Computer Education and Research in Medical Sciences (CERMES Foundation), said their organisation was partnering the Tema Metro Office of the Veterinary Service for the vaccination exercise as part of the 2024 World Rabies Day. She emphasised the need to vaccinate dogs to help reduce the high incidence of rabies among humans and its highly fatal nature, a situation that can be prevented with anti-rabies prevention. Source: Ghana News Agency