Aspins featured in dog show marking World Rabies Day

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines – Dog shows are usually held for dogs of pedigree. But this time, aspins will be featured in a dog show here this week as part of the World Rabies Day 2016 celebration.

Aspins, or Asong Pinoy, are mongrel dogs. These dogs are commonly called askal, which means asong kalye or street dog.

The aspins will be paraded down the street on Sept. 30.

The best male and female aspins will be awarded P1,500 each, well-groomed male and female aspins will receive P1,500 each, and the male and female dogs that will be the “darling of the crowd” will be given P1,000 each.

Eric Jose Perez, provincial veterinarian, said the parade would be held after a program on rabies prevention to be facilitated by his office at 8 a.m. at the Solid Waste Management Compound.

The Office of the Provincial Veterinarian regularly gives free anti-rabies vaccination as part of the provincial government’s implementation of rabies prevention and control program. Perez encourages all dog owners to avail of the vaccination for their pets.

The provincial government is aiming for the full implementation and intensification of the anti-rabies campaign in Pangasinan in pursuance to Republic Act No. 9482.

Records of the Provincial Health Office shows that Pangasinan had 19,037 cases of animal bite in 2015.

In January to June 2016, 14,390 cases of animal bite were recoded, 13,873 were treated and 14 deaths were recorded.