Trained dogs entertain kids at Quezon City vax site

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government has started deploying trained dogs to community vaccination sites to help children cope with their fear of injections.

Mayor Joy Belmonte said trained emotional support dogs “Chichi” and “Coffee” were deployed by the city veterinary department to the North Fairview Elementary School to help encourage children get COVID-19 vaccines. The stray dogs were rescued from the streets a few months ago.

“When kids see the dogs, they feel elated and they can also hug them. It soothes the anxiety of the children and makes vaccination a fun experience for them,” Belmonte said.

City veterinarian Dr. Ana Marie Cabel said the local health department has coordinated with their office to make vaccinations in community sites as lively as those located in malls and event spaces that have colorful decorations intended for children.

Since the establishment of the QC Animal Care and Adoption Center, city veterinarians have trained 14 canines as community service animals and two as emotional support dogs.

Belmonte said the Quezon City Police District also started training five rescued stray dogs to become drug sniffers. The other dogs are still being prepared for assignment in other QCPD detachments and barangays.

“Soon, we will start bringing trained dogs in institutions, such as GRACES facility for the aged. Whenever we finish training the dogs, we’ll send them to facilities that need emotional support animals,” Cabel said.

Before being trained as community service dogs for two months, the canines undergo a comprehensive assessment by the city veterinarians.