Talisay ‘rabies-free’ in 2015

CEBU, Philippines – Talisay City ended the previous year with no rabies case reported, city veterinarian Dr. Santiago Hortel shared to The FREEMAN.

Hortel attributed Talisay's "rabies-free" status to the "consistent" apprehension of stray dogs in the city.

He said their impounding team rounds up stray dogs in the streets everyday, especially whenever residents request for their help. The increasing number of the stray dogs around the city, he said, continues to pose health risks to individuals.

The city veterinarian said they could terminate 60 unclaimed stray dogs for a week.

Owners of stray dogs will be given a week to claim their dogs by paying P75. This is based on the city ordinance which regulates the ownership of dogs.

In 2014, Talisay City recorded two canine rabies cases.

Hortel said that for 2016, they will continue to round up stray dogs and terminate or kill those that are left unclaimed within the specified time.

"If there are people who failed to deliver their obligation to their dogs, there are also people who are responsible enough to take good care of their pets and conscious not to bother other people because of the behavior of their dogs," Hortel said.

He added that Talisay City's Veterinarian Office is open to cater vaccinations for dogs and clarified that vaccinations conducted in the barangays will be free of charge.

The rabies prevention and control program is one of the priorities under the administration of President Aquino.

The national government, through the Department of Health, aims to achieve zero canine rabies case by 2020 and zero human rabies case by 2016. (FREEMAN)