City Vet told to reduce number of stray dogs

Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella asked the City Veterinarian Office to reduce the number of stray dogs in the city which he blamed for the rise in dog bite cases.

Labella said he noticed an increase in the requests for vaccines and medicines from city’s indigent residents.

“This does not take into account the cases of those who can afford the vaccines and go to private clinics and hospitals which, if considered, would increase the number of incidents even more,” Labella said.

Dr. Jessica Maribojoc of the City Pound and Animal Health Division of the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries said if the weather is hot, the biting incidents rise.

“If the temperature is hot, more dogs are outside and they get more thirsty and hungry so they find a way to sustain their daily needs for survival,” Maribojoc said.

She said it is important that pet owners properly care for their dogs and for residents to be properly educated on how to properly treat dogs.

Dr. Susan Adlawan, head of the Animal Bite Treatment Center of the Cebu City Health Department said the dog bite incidents in February is slightly higher than January and December of last year.

For February the cases for dog bites reached 398, 377 cases in January and 313 cases last December for Cebu City north district alone.

Patients would have to go back for treatment on the first day, day three, day seven and day 28. The first two treatments are given for free at the City Health Department.

For Cebu City south district residents, patients would have to go to the Animal Bite Center at the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC).

Maribojoc said their department doesn’t have a vehicle since last month that would have help them in their operation to impound reported stray dogs.