BONTOC, Mountain Province – The Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMAg) is reminding the public to be responsible pet owners and get their pets vaccinated with anti-rabies and provide them with proper food and shelter to help sustain the wellness of their pets.
Municipal Government Assistant Department Head Catherine Agcon from the OMAg made this announcement during the 2nd Quarter Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) meeting on March 16, 2022, in Barangay Caneo, Bontoc, Mountain Province.
According to Agcon, the municipal government, through the OMAg, in partnership with the provincial government through the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPVet) and Feed-Tech have been going around the barangays the whole month of March for the conduct of home service free anti-rabies vaccination to dogs and cats.
As of this writing, a total of 905 pets were vaccinated with the anti-rabies. There are 162 dogs vaccinated with the anti-rabies in Barangay Talubin, 222 in Caluttit, 64 in Gonogon, 282 in Bontoc Ili, and 173 dogs and two cats in Poblacion.
Agcon added that the free anti-rabies vaccination is still ongoing, thus she encouraged pet owners who did not have their pets vaccinated to avail of the same when personnel from the OMAg, OPVet, and Feed-Tech visit their respective barangays. Also, they may bring their pets personally to the OPVet or the OMAg for the free –rabies vaccination.
She reported that Bontoc has been rabies-free for 12 years. However, one confirmed rabies case has been recorded on March 11, 2022, in Barangay Talubin.
According to World Health Organization, rabies is a very dangerous virus that causes brain inflammation in humans and other mammals. Animals carrying the infection can spread rabies to humans through bites and scratches. Without treatment, the disease can be fatal. However, it is treatable if a person who has had exposure to rabies seeks immediate medical attention.
The Rabies Awareness Month is observed per Executive Order No. 84, series of 1999,” Declaring March as the Rabies Awareness Month Rationalizing the Control Measures for the Prevention and Eradication of Rabies and Appropriating Funds Thereof.” This is also in line with the objectives of Republic Act No. 9482 (Anti-rabies Act of 2007) aimed to protect and promote peoples’ right to health through various activities on prevention and eradication measures. The theme is “Rabies-free na pusa’t aso, kaligtasan ng pamilyang Pilipino” for the next five years (2022-2027).
