Free clinic for dogs tomorrow

“IT’s their time to shine.”
Bannered with this theme, the 4th AsPin (asong Pinoy) Day is set tomorrow, June 29 at the Plaza Independencia in downtown Cebu City.
“As Filipinos, we should patronize and be proud of our own breed of dogs the Asong Pinoy,” said city veterinarian Alice Utlang.
A free clinic will be available for dogs, both AsPins and pure-breeds, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the plaza. There will be free anti-rabies vaccination, deworming and vitamins courtesy of the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF).
There will also be an AsPin adoption event. People can file applications on the spot. Qualified applications will be subjected to a screening by an adoption panel.
Dogs from the Island Rescue Organization (IRO) will be up or adoption.
For those who can’t make it tomorrow, the Cebu City pound also has 46 dogs and five cats for adoption any time, said Utlang.
The best looking AsPin will be proclaimed during the event. The winner will receive 20 kilos of dog food, a certificate and a trophy.
The AsPin Day, which is celebrated as part of the local rabies awareness month, is organized by the IRO in partnership with the Cebu City government through the DVMF.
“We are inviting everyone to join the event and bring your AsPins. It’s time that we promote and be proud of our AsPins,” said Annalyn Aizpuro of IRO.
IRO is an organization which seeks to educate, advocate and teach people to be responsible pet owners. They also rescue abandoned and abused animals.
During yesterday’s press conference, IRO also reminded the public that torturing, neglecting and maltreating any animal is punishable under Republic Act 8485, otherwise known as the Animal Welfare Act.
They urged the public to report animal cruelty and dial 166 to contact the Police Mobile Patrol.
IRO currently has 46 and 47 rescued dogs in their rescue shelters in Danao and Guadalupe respectively, according to IRO shelter manager Yemenia Cuyos.
It also houses some pitbulls rescued from Koreans who were caught last year running an online dogfight operation in San Pablo, Laguna. /Correspondent Jose Santino S. Bunachita