Some 4,200 dogs are being targeted by the Tacloban City Veterinary Office (CVO) for its dog vaccination and registration program for the first quarter of this year.

This was confirmed by City Veterinarian Dr. Eunice Alcantara as the CVO revs up its anti-rabies campaign in city barangays to coincide with the Rabies Awareness Month activities.

The activities aim to raise awareness about rabies, a disease that can be contracted from an infected animal that is 100% avoidable but 100% fatal.

“Nagpapadayon an aton mga panbakuna hiton mga ayam ha mga barangay…upod gihapon an aton kampanya kontra rabis. Target naton yana nga tuig mabakunahan an 16,000 nga mga ayam ha syudad, ” said Dr. Alcantara.

For the whole month of March, the Veterinary Office has scheduled barangay visitations to offer its free veterinary services, such as anti-rabies vaccination and deworming.

On March 30, free neutering (pisit) services for male dogs and cats, deworming, vaccinations, and the giving of vitamins will be held at the CEO Gym from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Pet owners who will avail of the services will need to register at the CVO’s official Facebook page, Tacloban City Veterinary Office.

To cap the RAM activities on March 31, the office will commend the resettlement sites in Tacloban North with zero incidence of stray dogs, and the winners will receive monetary incentives. A total of 63 home owner associations from 17 resettlement sites have joined the search, which will be awarded at the City Hall North Extension Office located at Brgy. Sto. Niño at the end of the month.

Meanwhile, Dr. Alcantara emphasized that the CVO also actively implements its anti-rabies initiatives year-round, as mandated by the Tacloban City Animal Code, through information campaigns on responsible pet ownership, dog registration, and impounding activities.

In fact, data from the veterinary office showed that as of February 22 this year, 364 stray dogs were caught, while 44 were surrendered voluntarily by owners. Currently, there are more than 4,200 registered dogs in the city.

The Department of Health (DOH) claims that rabies is a serious public health issue that kills 200 to 300 Filipinos per year.

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via H.J. Roca/CIO