In Naga City: Castration, anti-rabies vax jab tops Rabies Awareness Month

By Jason B. Neola

Several hundreds of dogs and cats are expected to be brought to the City Hall grounds on Saturday, March 26, to have them castrated and/or injected with anti-rabies vaccine.

The activity highlights the city government of Naga’s celebration of Rabies Awareness Month, which is open not only to pet lovers living in Naga but those residing in the municipalities of Metro Naga as well especially in areas close to the city.

Dr. Junios Elad, head of LGU Naga’s City Veterinary Office (CVO), said his office is encouraging the participation of non-Naga residents in the activity to ensure a wider coverage of its rabies control eradication program.

RABIES PROTECTION A pet dog getting an anti-rabies vax jab from a personnel of LGU Naga’s office of the city veterinary.

He also said that by getting the participation of Metro Naga residents, the CVO will also obtain a wider coverage for its animal population control campaign.

The veterinary doctor said rabies is a viral disease that causes inflammation of the brain in humans. Early symptoms can include fever and tingling at the site of exposure followed by nausea, vomiting, violent movements, uncontrolled excitement, fear of water, inability to move parts of the body, confusion, and loss of consciousness. Once symptoms appear, the result is virtually always death.

With the great number of dogs and cats that are expected to be brought to the City Hall grounds on Saturday, Elad said three more veterinary doctors will join them to assist CVO personnel in extending the services.

A group of students from CBSUA taking up veterinary medicine will also be around to serve as volunteers.