NCotabato seizes 724 stray dogs in campaign
09/16/2008 | 11:10 PM
KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines - The office of the provincial veterinarian in North Cotabato has strengthened its operation against stray dogs in various towns of the province even as it announced that more than 700 dogs were captured last month.
Provincial veterinarian Dr. Enrico Garzon, Jr., DVM disclosed that 724 dogs were captured during the “Operation Askal" in eight towns of the province including this city in the month of August.
The town of Tulunan ranked number one with total 220 dogs arrested. Kidapawan City ranked second with 207 dogs captured followed by the towns of Kabacan, 116; Mlang, 96; Antipas, 60 and Makilala 25.
Dr. Garzon said of the total 724 dogs apprehended, only 336 were claimed by the rightful owners that trooped to their office inside the capitol compound in Barangay Amas, this city.
“Actually we give one week to the owners for them to claim their dogs in our office. We also collect meager amount as board and lodging of their pet," Garzon stressed.
While the remaining 388 dogs were eliminated using the gas chamber following the failure of the owners to claim them while being in the custody of the provincial veterinary office.
Garzon is also quick to explain that killing these dogs using the gas chamber could not be considered as cruelty to animals.
“These are stray dogs. Some were already thin and abandoned by the rightful owners," Garzon said.
Dr. Garzon also called the dog owners in North Cotabato to properly take good care of their pets and not letting them loiter in busy streets and in populated areas.
“Instead of releasing these dogs, we rather eliminate them to ensure safety of our constituent against the deadly rabies virus," Dr. Garzon stressed.
He appealed to the dog owners to be responsible at all times and ensure that their pets were safe from rabies by giving anti-rabies vaccine.
Garzon advised those individuals who own several dogs to make sure that their pets were given anti-rabies vaccines for safety not only of their households but of other people as well.
The provincial veterinary is also giving free anti-rabies vaccines in order to make sure that dogs are rabies free.
The operation against stray dogs was started in 2006 in compliance for the anti-rabies ordinance approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of North Cotabato.
The ordinance was crafted following the alarming cases of dog bites and rabies cases in the province in the previous years.
In 2006 some 100 individuals all over the province were bitten by stray dogs and more than 10 people died due to rabies infection. - Williamor Magbanua, GMANews.TV
Provincial veterinarian Dr. Enrico Garzon, Jr., DVM disclosed that 724 dogs were captured during the “Operation Askal" in eight towns of the province including this city in the month of August.
The town of Tulunan ranked number one with total 220 dogs arrested. Kidapawan City ranked second with 207 dogs captured followed by the towns of Kabacan, 116; Mlang, 96; Antipas, 60 and Makilala 25.
Dr. Garzon said of the total 724 dogs apprehended, only 336 were claimed by the rightful owners that trooped to their office inside the capitol compound in Barangay Amas, this city.
“Actually we give one week to the owners for them to claim their dogs in our office. We also collect meager amount as board and lodging of their pet," Garzon stressed.
While the remaining 388 dogs were eliminated using the gas chamber following the failure of the owners to claim them while being in the custody of the provincial veterinary office.
Garzon is also quick to explain that killing these dogs using the gas chamber could not be considered as cruelty to animals.
“These are stray dogs. Some were already thin and abandoned by the rightful owners," Garzon said.
Dr. Garzon also called the dog owners in North Cotabato to properly take good care of their pets and not letting them loiter in busy streets and in populated areas.
“Instead of releasing these dogs, we rather eliminate them to ensure safety of our constituent against the deadly rabies virus," Dr. Garzon stressed.
He appealed to the dog owners to be responsible at all times and ensure that their pets were safe from rabies by giving anti-rabies vaccine.
Garzon advised those individuals who own several dogs to make sure that their pets were given anti-rabies vaccines for safety not only of their households but of other people as well.
The provincial veterinary is also giving free anti-rabies vaccines in order to make sure that dogs are rabies free.
The operation against stray dogs was started in 2006 in compliance for the anti-rabies ordinance approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of North Cotabato.
The ordinance was crafted following the alarming cases of dog bites and rabies cases in the province in the previous years.
In 2006 some 100 individuals all over the province were bitten by stray dogs and more than 10 people died due to rabies infection. - Williamor Magbanua, GMANews.TV
