Caloocan dogs get free anti-rabies shots

The Caloocan City government announced yesterday that some 310 dogs benefited from the free anti-rabies vaccination program conducted over the weekend by Rotary Club Sampaguita Grace Park and City Veterinary Office.

Caloocan Mayor Enrico "Recom" Echiverri said the same project will also be held in Caloocan North and targets some 1,000 dogs for vaccination.

The Rotary Club donated 1,000 doses of anti-rabies vaccine to the city to be used in the next vaccination project.

Rabies is a disease caused by a virus found in the saliva of infected animals and is transmitted to pets and humans by bites, or possibly by contamination of an open cut. Untreated, rabies causes a painful death.

Echiverri said there is no known cure for rabies, but it can be prevented by vaccination, both in humans and other animals.

The mayor also asked residents to take care of their dogs and not to let them roam the streets as contact with other dogs could infect them with rabies.

He said stray dogs pose a huge danger to the public, especially children.

The Philippines ranks fourth in the world in the number of rabies cases. – Jerry Botial