Rabies-free Muntinlupa vaccinates 43,470 pets

Muntinlupa, the only city to rigidly implement a massive anti-rabies project, has announced that it has vaccinated over 43,470 dogs and cats since its inception last 2002.

The project had earning for the city a recognition from the Department of Health (DOH) as a model city for all other local government units as far as the said drive is concerned.

The city’s veterinary office said the DOH commended their efforts earlier in making the city rabies-free by this year because the group managed to vaccinate around 22,583 dogs in 2002, 14,650 last year and 6,237 in the first quarter of 2004.

The office said the figure last year was quite low because other dogs have already been vaccinated by the office of the city’s congressman. Muntinlupa hopes to vaccinate around 20,000 pets this year.

Last year, the city veterinary office garnered the Best Rabies Practice award during the 2003 Rabies Summit held at the Heritage Hotel along with the cities of Manila and Marikina.

Currently, the office maintains 13 impounding areas located in the different villages of the city. Veterinary personnel regularly conduct impounding of dogs in subdivisions as per request of homeowners.

The dogs are given three days at the holding area for retrieval by their owners and afterwards put to sleep if no owners claim the stray dog.

To date, the city is in negotiation for a private land that will be the site of a centralized impounding area for all stray dogs caught.

Residents in the city said they are satisfied with the anti-rabies campaign because they are now able to enjoy their walking and jogging activities without the fear of being bitten by dogs.