CVAO holds free anti-rabies vaccination drive in Guisad

May 15, 2024 | By Rina Marie Capilador

Pet owner's dog got it's shot of anti-rabies in Guisad Central Barangay Hall on May 13, 2024. (Facebook/Barangay Guisad Central)

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The Baguio City Veterinary and Agriculture Office (CVAO) held a free anti-rabies vaccination drive for dogs and cats of at least three months of age, in Guisad Central and Surong on Monday, May 13.

This yearly initiative of CVAO aimed to increase vaccination rates and control the spread of rabies in the city to ensure the safety of both pets and pet owners.

“Para kung may positive man diyan at least napi-prevent natin yung spread. Then, kung makagat man ‘yung owner, at least alam nilang bakunado yung aso, na hindi na siya mag-iisip na baka may rabies ito,” Bellamy Payad, vaccinator from CVAO.

Payad added that their target quota of vaccinated pets per year is around 40,000. They plan to visit all 128 barangays in the city to conduct free anti-rabies vaccination drives.

As part of the program, dog owners are required to register their dogs before or after the vaccination, as mandated by City Ordinance No. 19, series of 2021, or the Responsible Dog Ownership Ordinance.

The pet registration has a one-time fee of P50 per dog. Owners can register their dogs directly at CVAO or to their respective barangay halls.

Meanwhile, there is currently no ordinance for the mandatory registration of cats.

“Eh, ‘di ba, required yan eh… Para sa aso, safety niya. Baka may makagat eh mahirap na. Kahit sabihin mong nakatali lang sa bahay, mamaya may lumapit. Although, di naman siya nangangat pero mahirap na,” Butch said, a resident of Guisad who got his dog registered and vaccinated on the same day.

Dr. Silardo Bested of CVAO, in a media forum last May 8, said there are only 25,000 dogs registered out of the estimated 60,000 dog population in the city as of 2024.

The next round of the anti-rabies vaccination drive in Guisad might happen around November or December this year. CVAO conducts vaccination drives twice a year to cater to pets who missed the first round.