City vet iterates ‘responsible pet ownership’

City Veterinary and Agriculture Office (CVAO) head Dr. Silardo Bested reminded residents to take proper care of their pets  by having them vaccinated against rabies as part of the local government’s ongoing “Responsible Pet Ownership” program spearheaded by his office.

In a media forum at City Hall, March 9, he said owners should also not allow their pets to just roam around the neighborhood or in other public places but they should be properly leashed or inside the premises of their owners’ homes or compounds.

He warned that the fine imposed on owners of dogs caught roaming the streets  or other public areas was increased to P500.

With March as  ‘Anti-Rabies Month’, Bested said the CVAO is currently visiting the city’s  barangays to give free rabies jabs  to dogs and cats including free neutering to control their population that is presently at around 60,000.

He said residents of barangays the CVAO have already visited have been very receptive to the vaccination and neutering of their pets.

The vaccinations are usually held in partnership with various organizations and that the anti-rabies vaccines will only be given free until the supplies provided by the Department of Agriculture are still available, he added.

Bested disclosed that the number of rabies cases have been declining for the past years with only two reported animal rabies cases in the city last year and none so far this year. – Gaby B. Keith