15 September 2022
The Davao City Veterinarian’s Office (CVO) is strengthening its Rabies Control Program, Population Control Program, and Responsible Pet Ownership education campaign in an effort to eliminate animal-borne diseases in the city and reduce the number of stray dogs on the streets.
CVO head Dr. Cerelyn Pinili, during the I-Speak media forum on Thursday, said that from January to August of this year, 60,458 dogs were given free anti-rabies vaccines under the CVO’s Rabies Control Program.
The city’s dog populations is estimated 150,434.
“Ang amoang target is at least makabakuna mi og 70 percent, so ang target namo is 105,304 (Our target is to vaccinate 70% [of the total dog population], so our target is 105,304),” Pinili said.
To regulate the number of pets in Davao City, under the office’s Population Control Program, a total of 3,655 cats and dogs were either spayed or neutered so far this year.
Under the same program, impounding of stray dogs is being carried out.
Pinili said the city can now temporarily house more dogs because of the added space in the Malagos dog pound which opened in June last year.
“Sa dog pound sa Maa, maka-accommodate siya og 80 heads; ang sa Malagos can accommodate at least 130 (The dog pound in Maa can accommodate 80 dogs; the one in Malagos can accommodate, at least, 130),” she said.
The CVO head added that the city will soon open its very first dog rehabilitation center in Malagos. She said the building for the center is already finished and is estimated to start operations next year.
The rehabilitation center can accommodate 20 dogs to be chosen from the city’s pounds. These dogs are to be nursed back to health and put up for adoption.
Gearing towards a much more humane system of controlling the population of stray dogs, to which the education of pet owners all over the city is vital, the CVO is also conducting a community-level information and education campaign on responsible pet ownership.
“Have your dogs vaccinated, and ayaw gyud ipalatagaw ang mga iro ninyo. I-leash nato. Dapat naka-confine lang gyud sa inyong balay, (Have your dogs vaccinated, and do not let your dogs on the loose. Leash them. They should be confined in your homes),” Pinili said.
Pinili urged Dabawenyo pet owners to avail of free anti-rabies vaccines for their pets from the 10 CVO district centers all over the city or from the CVO main office on Magallanes Street. Anti-rabies shots are available every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pet owners can bring their pets to the CVO main office Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to avail of free spaying or neutering. CIO
