Baguio vet office strengthens fight vs spread of rabies

BAGUIO CITY, Aug. 8 — Dr. Brigit Piok, city veterinary office head, on Monday revealed that in the latest data of Animal Health Division headed by Dr. Gladys Cunning Bantog, there are vaccination activities being done in the city’s barangays aside from impounding stray dogs.

She said 30,787 out of 50,000 dogs registered in the city were given anti rabies vaccines. They also did castration of 97 dogs and cats.

She said 30,787 out of 50,000 dogs registered in the city were given anti rabies vaccines. They also did castration of 97 dogs and cats. (PNA Photo)

Piok said the control of the population of dogs helps decrease dog bite incidents which spread rabies to humans.

With the help of the barangay officials, there were 83 stray dogs impounded, bringing to 1,229 the number of dogs caught and brought to the custody of the city veterinary office.

She said 30,787 out of 50,000 dogs registered in the city were given anti rabies vaccines. They also did castration of 97 dogs and cats. (PNA Photo)

Piok explained that the use of the loop method in catching stray dogs follows the animal welfare law and is approved by the animal welfare committee.

“Protecting public health and safety by catching stray dogs is not easy, some of our impounding team were accidentally bitten by the stray dogs,” as she stressed that the welfare of the animals is also taken into consideration when impounding stray dogs.

She said this as they explained that the primary mandate of their office is to prevent and control rabies in the city and to make the public safe against rabid bites.

She said 30,787 out of 50,000 dogs registered in the city were given anti rabies vaccines. They also did castration of 97 dogs and cats. (PNA Photo)

Aside from being bitten, the presence of stray dogs also spreads diseases such as parasites and mange (galis aso).

She urged the public to be responsible pet owners by keeping these within their compound and to help disseminate information regarding rabies in order to protect not just themselves and their neighbors but the community as a whole.

Piok also said that their office is in the process of preparing the plans, designs and cost estimates for the construction of a sewage treatment plant for the city abattoir, the composting area, the upgrading of slaughterhouse facilities, machineries and buildings and the construction of a spay and neuter area for dogs and cats.

Piok relayed that will be holding a castration activity as part of the dog population control in October and in December (with a report from Nestor Castañeda Jr.