Bacolod vet: Stray dog hunting continues but…

BACOLOD City – The City Veterinary Office (CVO) can only do so much.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod reminded the CVO of its task of impounding stray dogs.

“A lot” of stray dogs roaming major streets and barangay roads pose danger to locals, especially motorists, the councilors said.

City Veterinarian Maria Agueda de la Torre stressed that they continue to catch stray dogs.

However, the CVO’s staff of six was also swamped with antirabies vaccination-related activities, de la Torre lamented.

Many pet owners in Bacolod do not take care of their dogs, the city council said in a resolution.

“The presence of these dogs on the streets hampers the flow of traffic [and] causes accidents,” the councilors said. “Oftentimes they (stray dogs) get hit by passing vehicles, killing them.”

Residents are also at risk of getting bitten, they noted.

As “the city’s arm in protecting and preserving the welfare of our animals,” the CVO should “rescue these stray dogs and impound them,” they added.

Caught stray dogs are taken to a dog pound in Barangay 35.

In July 2016 de la Torre said those that remain unclaimed after three days will be exterminated through firing by a licensed gun holder, a police officer or a soldier, as stated in the Responsible Dog Ownership Ordinance.

Aside from mass vaccination, exterminating stray dogs is the city government’s way of preventing the spread of rabies.

Barangay Estefania passed a resolution enjoining village officials to catch stray dogs and turn them over to the dog pound, de la Torre said.

Other barangays should do the same to help the CVO become more efficient, she said.

The CVO has vaccinated 27,218 dogs and cats and served 14,608 animal vaccination clients as of April this year.

CVO personnel go to the barangays to vaccinate animals, especially pet dogs and cats.

They also accommodate animals for vaccination at their office but for a fee of P50.

Meanwhile the City Health Office (CHO) recorded 2,210 cases of dog bites and 630 cases of cat bites as of April this year.

There had been no rabies death recorded in Bacolod since 2015, the CHO had said.

The office attributed this to massive animal vaccination, increased awareness on the animal bite program and availability of vaccines./