Quezon City starts anti-rabies campaign

Who let the dogs out?

The Quezon City Veterinary Office will kick off its three-month-long campaign against the deadly rabies disease by going on a vaccination drive starting next week.

City Veterinarian Dr. Maria Ana Cabel said that they would be targeting around 70,000 dogs, including strays.

The program will initially target areas in the second district, which registered the highest number of animal bite cases.

These include Gulod, Sta. Monica, Payatas, Kaligayahan, Batasan Hills, Nagkaisang Nayon and Culiat.

Of the eight victims who died last year, seven were residents of the second district. The youngest fatality was six-year-old Raymond Pascua, a resident of Payatas B, who was bitten by a stray dog.

Cabel said that teams would be sent to these areas to inject dogs with the vaccine against the deadly disease.

The program also offers neutering and spaying services for dogs and cats in partnership with the Rotary Club of Quezon City, Cubao Lions Club, Veterinary Foundation and the Animal Welfare Coalition.

Mayor Herbert Bautista earlier ordered the formation of an antirabies task force to reduce the risk of people dying from the disease.

On top of this, the city veterinary office also maintains an animal bite center where patients can receive free treatment.

It also boasts an impounding area in Payatas for dogs, cats, birds and other stray domestic animals.

For the first half of the year, nearly 1,800 stray dogs and cats were brought to the city pound where they were put up for adoption. Some, however, had to be put down.