Some 49,812 dogs have been vaccinated in Negros Occidental from January to March this year, records of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) showed.

Dr. Renante Decena, provincial veterinarian, said in a statement on Wednesday that they are conducting free massive rabies vaccination province-wide as part of the strengthened local rabies awareness programs and to reach the vaccination target set for 2021.

The total number of dogs vaccinated in the first quarter represents 18.15 percent of the target 215,521 dogs this year, which is about 80 percent of the 269,401 dog population in Negros Occidental.

Records also showed that the province has recorded 11 positive canine rabies cases since January.

Cases were reported in Himamaylan City with three; Victorias City and Cauayan, two each; Toboso, E.B. Magalona, Silay City, and Bacolod City, one each.

Decena said rabies is a fatal disease but is 100 percent preventable, but he stressed that a rabies-free province cannot be accomplished by the provincial government alone.

“There should be a collaborative effort from every household tending the most domesticated animals such as cats and dogs. The responsibility of every pet owner is to have their pet animals get rabies vaccinated,” he added.

Aside from vaccination, leashing or caging animals to prevent pets from roaming outside are also part of the rabies control and prevention measures being pushed by the provincial government and the local government units (LGUs).

These can contribute to realizing the vision of attaining a rabies-free Negros Occidental, Decena said.

In March, during the Rabies Awareness Month, the PVO also conducted 12 veterinary medical missions in eight LGUs, including San Carlos City, E.B. Magalona, Silay City, Moises Padilla, La Castellana, Hinigaran, Candoni and Hinoba-an, where they served a total of 1,329 clients.

Some 71 male dogs were castrated and 32 female dogs were also spayed during the “Libreng Kapon” program in the cities of Silay and Victorias. (PNA)