By Dhel Nazario Cat lovers in Taguig City can now avail of the free services from the City Veterinary Office (CVO) aimed at fighting rabies, controlling their population, and ensuring a safe neighborhood. "We included spaying and neutering in our program against rabies because one of the ways in eliminating rabies in our city is to control the population of our pets," City Veterinary Office (CVO) officer-in-charge, Dr. Alexis Siblag said. According to Dr. Siblag, neutering takes only three to five minutes, and spaying only between eight and 10 minutes. Residents who avail of the program are also given long-lasting injectable antibiotics and pain relievers for their cats – also free of charge. They will only need to register and submit some requirements, including a barangay residency or voter's ID proving you are a bona fide resident of Taguig City. Interested Taguigeños are welcome to visit the CVO at the city's Model House on Cayetano Boulevard in Barangay Ususan. The City of Taguig is encouraging its residents to take advantage of the free spaying and neutering services instead of going to a private clinic where the same services may cost them up to P5,000. The CVO also conducts the annual Taguig City Anti-Rabies Drive (TCARD) program, which involves veterinarians conducting house-to-house visits throughout the city to administer vaccines on pets.