Dogs Get Free Services on World Rabies Day

Dogs are man’s best friends and true to this old adage, the city government unit here gives free health services for dogs in celebration of World Rabies Day.

City Veterinarian Rey Alinsub said the event is spearheaded by the Provincial Veterinary Office on Friday.

“Dog castration, rabies vaccination, and deworming, all for free on World Rabies Day,” Dr. Alinsub in an interview during the Kapihan sa PIA said.

He added that a film featuring dogs-related stories at the city public plaza was also conducted during the day’s event.

“In Maasin City, 79 percent of dog population is already vaccinated during the mass vaccination held recently, which is higher compared to the target set of more than 80 percent for the city government for the whole year,” Alinsub said.

While the World Health Organization (WHO) set a target of at least 70 percent of dog population in an area must be vaccinated with anti-rabies, it was reported that Maasin is almost 150 percent compliant, he added.

He reminded those who will be bitten to follow the process such as washing the affected area with soap and clean or running water for 10 to 15-minutes then press the bitten area and immediately go to the bite center.

In Maasin City there are four bite animal centers and these are the city health units I, II and III and at the Provincial Hospital in barangay Dongon, Maasin City.

Dogs who bite humans will be observed for two weeks, the veterinarian said and if it dies, the brain will be sent for laboratory examination, to assess whether or not the dog is rabid.

“There has not been a rabies case reported in the City, both in dogs and in humans, except for biting incidents for almost four years now,” Alinsub said.

However, Maasin City has yet to submit certain requirements to the DOH for a rabies-free declaration. (LDL/RGC/PIA8-SoLeyte)