Kidapawan launches dog vaccination

KIDAPAWAN
CITY– Mayor Joseph Evangelista has
ordered a massive campaign against rabies in the city following rising cases of
dog bites in the cities 40 villages.

From January to September this year,
the Kidapawan City health officerecorded more than 300 cases of dog and
cat bites which could be rabid.

The city information office, through
its website, said one of the victims, not identified in the news site, has died
due to complications.

On World Rabies Day, the city
government conducted free anti-rabies vaccination in Barangay Poblacion where
55 dogs were given free anti rabies vaccines by personnel coming from the
Office of the City Veterinarian.

Joining the OCVET were teams coming
from the Provincial Veterinary Office as well as Veterinary Medicine Students
coming from the University of Southern Mindanao main campus in Kabacan.

Earlier, Evangelista signed an Executive
Order creating the Anti-Rabies Task Force. The spread of rabies is a public safety
concern that needs to be addressed,” Evangelista said.

Aside from anti-rabies injection, castrating
of male dogs and spaying (ligation) of female dogs were also conducted.

Personnel from the city veterinary
office said that dogs that were not castrated or spayed have high chances of
acquiring rabies as these roam freely in communities and interact with other not
vaccinated dogs.

Dog owners are advised to always
visit the veterinary office should their pets are sick or needs vaccination
since services are for free.

Evangelista also directed the city
veterinary office to apprehend dogs, especially the askals” (asong kalye),
because they pose threats to the public.

Dog owners are also reminded that
owning a dog is coupled with responsibility to ensure it does not harm people
and risk public lives.

Apprehended dogs will be confined at
the city dog pound facility of the city veterinary office and owners can only
reclaim them once corresponding penalties are paid at the city treasurer’s
office.