DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — There will be no more free anti-rabbies vaccines for dogs starting this year, according to the City Veterinary Office the other day.
City veterinarian Lourdes Socorro said that, over the past four years, the city government had been a recipient of donated anti-rabies vaccines from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
As a result, the CVO has recorded a high vaccination rate for dogs ranging from 13,000 to 15,000 a year, but without the donation, this is expected to drop significantly, said Socorro.
The CVO instead will enforce an ordinance requiring dog owners to have their dogs vaccinated for a fee of P165, which will include a dog tag, she said.
A house-to-house campaign for anti-rabbies vaccination for dogs and other pets is also being conducted to minimize, if not eradicate, rabid dog bites in the city, said Socorro.
The city official further called for responsible dog ownership to reduce the number of stray dogs, saying that people should not raise dogs if they are incapable of feeding, providing shelter and giving vaccination to their pets. (FREEMAN)