COTABATO CITY — Since January 1 this year, no single dog bite case has been reported here and in Kidapawan City as the veterinary office of both local government units intensified its anti-rabies dog vaccination campaign.
Dr. Robert Malcontento, Cotabato City veterinarian, said the massive dog vaccination against rabies, including the intensified campaign against stray dogs, contributed in the improving drive against the deadly virus in 37 barangays of the city.
“We continue our campaign and we have zero dog bite case this year compared to less than 10 (dog bites cases) last year,” Malcontento said, adding that no fatality was reported the past two years in the city.
Dr. Eugene Gornez, Kidapawan City veterinarian, also reported that no single dog bite case was reported since January 1 in the city’s 40 villages as against high cases in 2016 and 2017.
A total of 1,760 dog bites were recorded in 2016 in Kidapawan City, and it increased by 11.3 percent or 1,960 cases the following year.
Gornez appealed to pet owners, including those who have kittens, to bring these to the city veterinary office for free anti-rabies vaccines. The national government is eyeing a rabies-free Philippines in 2020. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
