Legazpi gives dog food for pets' anti-rabies jabs

By Cet Dematera

The distribution of free dog food, soap, shampoo, and vitamins dubbed as ‘dog pantry’ has enticed more owners to voluntarily submit their pets to vaccination, the Legazpi City Veterinary Office (CVO) reported.

CVO chief Dr. Emmanuel Estipona said that 14,078 or 70 percent of the targeted 20,000 dogs have already been vaccinated in the first nine months of the city’s anti-rabies vaccination program this 2021.

Estipona is optimistic that the remaining close to 6,000 still unvaccinated dogs would be inoculated before the end of the year.

He prodded owners to be responsible of their pets to prevent the spread of rabies and also avoid accidents caused by stray dogs roaming and crossing busy thoroughfares.

In time for the celebration of the World Rabies Month with the theme “Responsible pet owners are the key to stop stray dog menace and rabies infection in the community,” some 78 dogs were vaccinated on Saturday, Sept. 11, at the 4th Floor of the SM City Legazpi, Estipona said.

The anti-rabies vaccination and dog pantry have been spearheaded by the CVO in partnership with the SM City; Albay Animal Rescue and Adoption (AARA); Doggies choice; Univet Nutrition and Animal Healthcare Company (UNAHCO); Bicol Idol FM; and, the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

“We also captured 2,005 stray dogs in the last nine months as part of the city’s dog elimination campaign,” Estipona said.

Estipona also suggested to pet owners to put up animal pounds at their own backyard to prevent roaming of their dogs in the streets.