By Mel Madera/PNA
MALAYBALAY CITY – The city government of Malaybalay has intensified its anti-rabies campaign through “Oplan Dakip Aso”, which rescues dogs found roaming the streets.
City Veterinarian Mark Ferdinand Arambala, animal health section chief of the city’s Animal Health and Production Division, said the operation was based on City Ordinance No. 669, series of 2009, which was adopted from Republic Act No. 9482, known as the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007.
“We found out that most cases of dog bites are caused by stray dogs. We also found stray dogs scavenging in the streets. To maintain the cleanliness of the city, they must be netted and impounded,” Arambala said.
City Veterinary Office personnel have netted 25 dogs from four barangays — Barangay 5, Barangay 9, Sumpong and Casisang — since Monday and they continue to inspect other barangays.
Arambala said owners of the impounded dogs have three days to claim their pets before the unclaimed dogs are euthanized on Friday.
“Pet owners can claim their pet after paying a PHP500 impoundment fee, another PHP500 as penalty for having no leash, and PHP100 registration fee,” he said, adding that the euthanized dogs will be buried at the city hall landfill site in Barangay Can-ayan.
Citing records, Arambala said 79 dogs were impounded in 2017, of which 14 were claimed and the rest euthanized.
Last year, he said they netted 257 dogs, of which only 40 were claimed, 206 were euthanized, while 11 escaped because the cages were destroyed allegedly by a pet owner.
He urged residents to observe responsible pet ownership by taking care of their pet dogs.
