Pet owners told to promote animal welfare

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Animal Industry-7 has continued promoting responsible pet ownership as it reminded owners the need to provide pets with rabies vaccination as well as ligation and castration of pets.

“There’s really a need for us to promote the welfare of animals and that owners should be pet responsible,” said Dr. Daniel C. Ventura, Jr., DA-7 Regional Animal Welfare Coordinator, in a statement.

Ventura said that rabies vaccination prevents rabies cases, while spay and neuter or ligation (for female animals) and castration (for male animals) is for the control of overpopulation and maintaining a well-managed dog and cat population in the community.

Ventura said that as the population of dogs and cats increases, there is high demand to provide for their welfare needs.

Ventura added that spay and neuter prevent unwanted litters, help protect against some serious health problems and reduce behavioral problems associated with the mating instinct of animals.

In line with this, a total of 175 dogs and cats were spayed and neutered during the recently held Animal Welfare Week Celebration under the theme, “Promoting Animal Welfare Amidst National Emergencies.”

Of the total pets, 30 dogs were spayed and 50 were neutered while spayed cats were 36 and 59 neutered, and 34 vaccinated with rabies.

Ventura said that 18 veterinary surgeons, both local and private practitioners, had performed the spay and neuter with 25-manpower support.

Vaccination and population control through spay and neuter activities are among the components to the rabies elimination program of DA–BAI and the provincial, city and municipal local government units and the Department of Health under a One Health Approach.

Ventura has acknowledged the strong partnership with the LGUs and the private individuals and volunteers who rendered support to their undertakings including the Cebu Province Veterinary Office, Cebu City Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries, Mandaue Veterinary Office, Minglanilla Veterinary Office, Philippine Veterinary Medical Association - Central Visayas Chapter, Southwestern University PHINMA College of Veterinary Medicine, and Island Rescue Organization.

The celebration of Animal Welfare Week is held every first week of October by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 71, series of 2004. — GMR (FREEMAN)