Barangay steps up campaign for responsible pet ownership

CEBU, Philippines - Concern for public safety has prompted officials of Barangay Casuntingan in Mandaue City to step up their campaign against stray dogs and for responsible pet ownership following the recent dog attack that hurt 21 people.

The victims, including Casuntingan Barangay Captain Oscar del Castillo, were bitten by the dog owned by a certain Webster Seno.

The incident took place last Saturday afternoon, where the dog initially attacked seven people in the barangay and, a few hours later, the number of victims increased to 21 before the dog was captured in nearby Barangay Banilad Sunday dawn.

According to del Castillo, they will intensify their campaign for responsible pet ownership so that the incident will not be repeated.

Del Castillo also said there is a need to control and restrict the ownership of dogs to protect the public from attacks due to irresponsible acts of owners by letting their pets roam freely.

City Councilor Kevin Cabahug, chairman of the council committee on health, is asking the public to immediately report if there are stray dogs in their area.

Cabahug also asked the public to report to the city veterinary office the presence of any stray dogs so that they will be impounded in order to protect the public, especially children, from contracting rabies.

Rabies is a viral neuro-invasive disease that causes inflammation of the brain to a person bitten by an infected animal, commonly dogs.

Cabahug said impounding of stray dogs is important in protecting public health and welfare from possible illnesses people might suffer after getting in contact with these dogs.

At the city veterinary office, Dr. Danilo Taasan said a mass vaccination and impounding of stray dogs will continue to be the main thrusts of his office.

The unclaimed dogs are killed at the city pound three days after they are caught.

The city pound can only accommodate 100 stray dogs at a time, and this leaves operators with no choice but to end a dog's life by injecting it with a chemical to put the dog to sleep before injecting it again with the lethal potassium chloride.

In the past, the usual practice was to gas dogs inside a chamber but this was changed to comply with the provisions stipulated in the Animal Welfare Act. (FREEMAN)