MABALACAT CITY -- A village chairman here has urged his constituents to practice responsible pet ownership.
Dr. Oscar Aurelio, Dau village chairman, issued the statement following numerous complaints of stray dogs in several villages in Mabalacat City.
Aurelio, who is also the president of the Liga ng mga Barangay here, said the problem is prevalent in big villages including Dau, Madapdap resettlement, Sapang Biabas, and San Francisco.
The village chief said the proper implementation of Republic Act (RA) 9482 or the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007. It is an act providing for the control and elimination of human and animal rabies.
Component activities under the anti-rabies program include mass vaccination of dogs, establishment of central database system for registered and vaccinated dogs, impounding, field control and disposition of unregistered stray and unvaccinated dogs, and others.
Aurelio said he had requested the City Veterinary’s Office (CVO) to conduct regular vaccination of dogs, cats and other animals in his barangay.
The CVO has vowed to establish a dog pound in consonance with the implementation of RA 9482.
“We also requested the city veterinary to train our personnel on the proper handling and disposition of stray dogs,” Aurelio said.
“Mayroon tayong ordinansa tungkol sa mga stray animals ngunit hindi ito pinapatupad ng local government,” the village chief added.
