The City Veterinary Office is urging owners of cats and dogs to bring their animals during the free rabies vaccination set at their barangay halls from March to April.
CVO Chief Brigit Piok said the free vaccinations in the barangays started on March 3 and will last until April 4.
The initiative is part of the observance of the Rabies Awareness Month. The free vaccination is also part of the efforts to make the city rabies-free by 2030.
A person who is bitten by an animal that is infected by rabies can die if not immediately injected by an anti-rabies vaccine.
Animals need to be vaccinated every three years as protection, Piok said.
“If the time of vaccination lapses, there’s a possibility for your pet to acquire viral diseases. So, it is important to vaccinate your pet on or before the previous vaccine expires,” Piok said.
She added the office is giving free rabies vaccines to residents set at clustered villages on different schedules.
Some barangays already had the free vaccination. The schedule for other barangays are March 17 at Holy Ghost Proper, March 19 at Loakan-Apugan; March 20 at Pinsao Pilot; March 21 at Poliwes; March 24 to 26 at Loakan Proper; March 27 at Middle Rock Quarry, Kayang Extension, and Fil-Am Subdivision; March 28 at Igorot Garden; March 31 to April 2 at Camp 7 and April 4 at Camp 7.
Piok said only cats and dogs that are three months old and above, healthy, and not pregnant can be vaccinated.
She said they will also do microchipping, free mass spay, and neutering aside from the awareness campaign on responsible pet ownership.
Dr. Eric Evangelista, a veterinarian, said rabies is endemic in the country so there is the need for animals to be given vaccination every three years.
He said anti-rabies vaccines for animals cost between P250 to P500. – PNA with reports from Jephryll Jallen Epler
April 20, 2024
