City vet wants penalties for owners of rabid dogs

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City veterinarian has suggested that the city should have an ordinance that would penalize dog owners whose pets are found positive of rabies.

Dr. Alice Utlang said that a rabid dog means one thing. It is not being taken care of by the owner.

“Kon positive sa rabies ang ilang iro sa ato pa wala sila magtagad sa pagpabakuna sa ilang mga binuhi ( if their dog is positive of rabies it means they did not care to have it vaccinated),” Utlang said.

Councilor Edgardo Labella said he is inclined to agree with Utlang.

“Rabies kills. The next victim could be the dog owner himself,” Labella said in a text message.

Utlang said that anti-rabies vaccine for dogs and even cats are given free by the city government. The Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) is giving the vaccine free because it has received donations from the Humane Society International and other donors.

Utlang said yesterday that her office still has anti-rabies vaccines equivalent to 67,400 doses that will expire on 2014. The city’s dog population now is estimated at 57,000.

Utlang said the public can request her office to send personnel in their respective places to administer anti-rabies vaccine. They can also proceed individually to the DVMF office at the North Reclamation Area.

Since January, four dogs were found positive of rabies from Barangays Basak-Pardo, Apas, Sambag II and Bulacao. The figure, however, is lower compared to eight last year.

Since January until June 30, the DVMF has vaccinated a total of 21,415 dogs. The agency had stopped conducting saturation drive against stray dogs unless there is a request from the residents. Utlang said they have also stopped the old practice of killing stray dogs.

Utlang said this prompted the Humane Society International to give her and Mayor Michael Rama an award during the Animal Care Expo 2012 held in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 21-24.

Meanwhile, Utlang is planning to send two of the puppies they are presently taking care of to dog training center. These dogs will be trained on sniffing drugs and explosives.

Utlang said an Asong Pinoy trained by Ryan Ong, a Cebuano who owns the Canine Care, is among the 32 dogs that had passed the test from hundreds of dogs nationwide in sniffing drugs and explosives.

“Kinsay nag-ingon nga ang Asong Pinoy dili matudloan? Makamao gihapon sila (who says that an Asong Pinoy could not be taught? They too can learn),” she said.— (FREEMAN)