The newly-confirmed Provincial Veterinarian (ProVet) of Antique is advocating for responsible dog ownership as a preventive measure against rabies.

“Stray dogs loitering in the streets had been a concern raised by the Provincial Board so we will be advocating hard on it,” said Dr. Florencio Macuja in an interview Tuesday.

Macuja said that information dissemination will be conducted among dog owners to take care and not let their pets go astray on the streets that could pose danger to other people.

Dr. Marco Rafael Ardamil, head of the ProVet Public Health Division, said in a separate interview that they met with the Liga ng mga Barangay of Patnongon on Tuesday where he explained the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 and the responsibilities of the owners.

“Among the owner’s responsibilities are for them to have their dogs be regularly vaccinated against rabies, be registered in their barangay halls, and for them to be provided with proper grooming, adequate food, and clean shelter,” he said.

Last year, there were two human deaths due to dog bites from the towns of Valderrama and Libertad, Ardamil said.

“Last January 2021, there were already two heads of dogs that were sent to the Department of Agriculture Regional Laboratory and turned out to be positive with rabies,” he added.

He said that luckily there was no human death last month as victims of the dog bites were given immediate treatment.

Ardamil said that they are still in the process of updating the dog population in the province, which stood at 41,033 in 2019. (PNA)