LOS BAÑOS, Laguna, Philippines – Stray dogs have become a big public health menace in this internationally known university town.
This, notwithstanding municipal ordinances passed by the sangguniang bayan enjoining local residents to tie their dogs and not let them roam in the streets.
The canines have been victimizing hundreds of Los Baños residents who were already bitten by domestic animals, mostly dogs, during the first half of this year.
This is 95 less than the total number of Los Baños folks bitten by pet animals in 2009.
Records of the Los Baños Animal Bite Treatment Clinic created by the Municipal Health Office on Feb. 17, 2009 showed that of the 407 animal bite incidences here last year, 320 were inflicted by dogs, a good number of which were stray ones.
Eighty-five residents were bitten by cats and two by pet monkeys.
Most of the 312 victims in the first half of this year were bitten by dogs, mostly askal, according to records of the MHO headed by Dr. Alvin Isidoro.
Over the years, stray dogs have become a big public health menace in this university town dubbed “Science and Nature City” by virtue of a Presidential Proclamation.
Recently, homeowners in one of the town’s subdivisions expressed concern over the danger posed by stray dogs during their association’s regular meetings.
Stray dogs have also become causes for quarrels among neighbors.
For instance, one family has posted a big note outside its residence calling on neighbors who allow their pets to go astray to clean the streets of their animals’ wastes.
Likewise, residents doing their morning exercises (walking or jogging) have to bring with them canes, sticks, or umbrellas to ward off askals, some of which menacingly snarl at passersby.
Ordinances enacted by the sangguniang bayan penalize owners of dogs, large cattle, goats, and pigs who let their animals astray. Dogs, particularly, should be leashed or tied.
A few years back, the local government took measures to rid Los Baños streets of stray dogs.
But the askals found defenders from “self-anointed animal rights champions” whom some residents have charged as more concerned with the welfare of the stray canines than the victims of dog bites.