DOH calls on local executives to enforce anti-rabies law

MANILA, Philippines –  Health Secretary Enrique Ona is urging local leaders to strictly implement Republic Act 9482 or the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 which mandates the impounding of stray, unregistered and unvaccinated dogs.

Ona also asked parents to closely monitor their children against the constant threat of being bitten by dogs, especially this Christmas break, when they are playing in the streets.

“Ninety-nine percent of rabies are due to dog bites and half of those bitten are children, 15 years old and younger,” he said in a press briefing Friday.

DOH records showed that from January to October 2010, 91,000 people were bitten by dogs and 264 of them developed rabies. Of those who had rabies, 206 died, representing a case fatality rate of 79 percent.

According to Ona, local government units (LGUs) need to “collect” stray dogs to effectively reduce “human rabies” cases in the Philippines.

“I think all LGUs already have ordinances on this but they are not being implemented strictly,” he added.

Under the law, the LGUs are required to “ensure that all dogs are properly immunized, registered and issued a corresponding dog tag for every immunized and registered dog.”

Local leaders also have to strictly enforce “dog impounding activities and field control to eliminate stray dogs and to ensure that dogs are leased or confined within the premises of the owner’s house or owner’s fenced surroundings.”

Pet owners are mandated to register their dogs, have them vaccinated regularly and to put them on a leash to prevent them from roaming the streets.

The law states that pet owners who fail or refuse to have their dogs registered and immunized against rabies face a fine of P2,000. They are also liable to pay for the vaccination of both the dog and the individual bitten by their dog.

They may be fined P10,000 if they refuse to place their dog under observation after it had bitten a person. A fine of P25,000 will also be imposed if they do not shoulder the medical expenses of the victim and place their dog under observation.

Pet owners who refuse to put a leash on their dogs when the animals are outside the house will be fined P500 among other penalties for other violations.