By Ahikam Pasion/Philippine News Agency
DAGUPAN CITY — The City Veterinary Office (CVO) here has already conducted anti-rabies vaccination on some 10,500 pet animals, or 87.5 percent of its target for this year.
City veterinarian Dr. Daniel Paolo Garcia said they have organized trips, in coordination with barangay (village) officials, for the vaccination of pet animals.
“This has been fulfilled thanks to the unceasing support of the local government unit headed by outgoing mayor Belen T. Fernandez,” he said in an interview Tuesday.
The CVO targets to vaccinate 12,000 pets in the city this year.
This target could be achieved within the month, as Bonuan Boquig is the only remaining barangay to be visited by the CVO. However, several sitios (sub-village) in the barangays are yet to be visited due to the presence of flood waters caused by high tide.
“May ilang mga barangays pa tulad ng Lucao na may naiwan pang sitio na di nababakunahan kasi high tide at lubog pa sa tubig yung sitio tukok na island sitio nila (There are still sitios left unvisited in some barangays like in Lucao because of flood waters due to high tide),” Garcia said.
The CVO plans to finish its vaccination program before July this year.
Garcia said pets should not get wet within a week after their vaccination as it could pose hazards to the animals.
“Parang sa mga bata din, na after vaccination, pwedeng lagnatin kasi yun ang normal na reaction ng katawan sa vaccines. Kaya kung maulanan o mapaliguan tapos di mapatuyo mabuti at gininaw lalo lumalala lagnat hanggang sa tumamlay at manghina at pwedeng mamatay pag di naagapan kaya yun po iniiwasan namin. (Like children, pet animals after vaccination could get fever as it is a normal reaction of the body to vaccines. So, if they get exposed or soaked in rain and they do not get dry and warmed immediately, the fever will worsen which could lead to their weakening and it could lead to their death if not immediately given medical attention, this is what we are trying to prevent),” he said.
Last year, the CVO vaccinated 12,000 pets in the city and in neighboring towns.
“We are also vaccinating them (pets in other towns) in order to prevent rabies outbreak in boundary barangays. It is the best preventive measure we can do,” Garcia said.
Garcia also assured the ample supply of anti-rabies vaccine for pet animals.
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