Tacloban vet office roams city to impound stray dogs | Inquirer News

Tacloban vet office roams city to impound stray dogs

/ 11:56 AM June 19, 2019

The veterinary office in Tacloban City

The veterinary office in Tacloban City has step up on their campaign against stray dogs amid incident in Isabela City where a 5-year old was mauled and killed by 10 stray dogs. Photo by Joey Gabieta

TACLOBAN CITY –– The City Veterinary Office (CVO) of this city has stepped up its campaign against stray dogs after a five-year-old boy was mauled and killed by at least 10 stray dogs in Isabela City, Basilan.

While there has been no similar case in Tacloban City for the past 10 years, Dr. Eunice Alcantara, city veterinary officer, said they didn’t want to be complacent.

Article continues after this advertisement

“That was alarming. That is why we have further stepped up in our campaign against stray dogs in the city, though for the past 10 years or so, we have not recorded of a human case (who died due to a dog bite),” Alcantara said.

FEATURED STORIES

Since Tuesday, two teams from the CVO have been roaming the city to impound stray dogs.

These dogs, she said, are placed in an impounding area where their owners are given three days to claim them with a charge of P2,000.

Article continues after this advertisement

Last year, the VCO was able to impound 2,400 stray dogs. However, only one percent of these dogs were retrieved by their owners.

Article continues after this advertisement

Alcantara said the remaining dogs were killed and buried in a pit.

Article continues after this advertisement

“We really have to eliminate these stray dogs because, aside from causing vehicular accidents, they bite those in the streets, mostly children,” she said.

These stray dogs, she added, could also transmit diseases like tapeworms.

Article continues after this advertisement

They estimate that there are more than 24,000 dogs in the city. Their office, however, could not determine how many of these dogs are on the streets.

Alcantara issued an appeal to dog owners to be responsible and keep their pets inside their houses or put them on a leash or in cages.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Tacloban has introduced an animal code in 2006 that enumerated the responsibilities of dog owners and their liabilities, like shouldering medical expenses once their dogs have bitten someone. (Editor: Leti Boniol)

TAGS: Dogs, stray dogs, Tacloban

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.