67T dogs vaccinated

Dogs in Cebu City received free shots as part of the Philippines’ drive to be rabies-free by 2020.

At least 67,791 dogs were vaccinated by the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) in a bid to fight the deadly rabies disease.

DVMF has been conducting a free door-to-door anti-rabies vaccination since February this year.

At present, the department was able to immunize around 68,000 dogs in 68 barangays.

Cebu City has 80 barangays.

Doctor Alice Utlang, DVMF chief, said this year’s target is to vaccinate up to 80 percent of the total number of dogs in the city.

The survey of the Humane Society International, a non-government organization, showed that approximately 130,000 dogs need vaccination.

According to DOH website, rabies is a human infection that occurs after a trans-dermal bite or scratch by an infected animal, like dogs, cats or rats.

DVMF has classified the city’s 80 barangays into three groups—high-risk, mediumrisk, and low-risk.

At least 21 barangays have been identified as high-risk, including Bacayan, Capitol Site, Pulangbato, Sambag, Apas, Bulacao, Babag, Quiot, Guadalupe, Sambag, Cogon Ramos, Zapatera, Mabolo, Luz, Sapangdaku, Buhisan, Toong, Duljo Fatima, San Antonio, Talamban, and Busay.

Medium-risk villages include Kamputhaw, Kinasangan, Cogon Pardo, Basak Pardo, Tisa, Tejero, Poblacion Pardo, and Inayawan.

“Nasulod kining mga barangays sa atoang criteria, ang kadaghan sa dogs ug naay namatay tungod sa rabies infections,” Utlang said.

Moreover, Utlang urged dog owners to have their pets vaccinated with free anti-rabies shots.

“Tungod sa kadaghan of dog bite cases ato na gyud ni gidala balay-balay arun ang mga tag-iya di na karason kung di ma bakonahan ilang mga dogs labi na'g makapaak,’’ she said.

The city is using a Mass Dog Vaccination (MDV) application, a tracking tool to identify problem areas in mass campaigns to vaccinate dogs.

Once vaccinated, the dog’s picture is quickly taken on a smartphone. This photo geo-tags dogs by location and uploads the data to an interactive map.

Designed by the HSI, the app is helping them identify key areas to target.

In a separate development, DVMF will also conduct a free sterilization in the form of spaying of all dogs on August 27.

Only Cebu City residents can avail of the program.