To welcome Rabies Awareness Month, the Pasig City Veterinary Clinic launched a citywide pet program that offered free spaying and neutering operations, as well as anti-rabies vaccinations at the Tiendesitas Mall in Pasig City on Tuesday, March 1.
The program aimed to provide free animal services and promote pet health and vaccination, under the slogan of “Rabies-free na pusa’t aso, kaligtasan ng pamilyang Pilipino (Rabies-free dogs and cats, for the safety of Filipino families).”
The event was organized by the Pasig City Veterinary Services Department (PCVSD), in collaboration with the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Health (DOH), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The Philippine Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA), Philippine Veterinary Drug Association, pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, and public health units of some private hospitals also lent their services in support of the event.
According to the PCVSD, 91 dogs and cats were spayed or neutered, and 127 pets were vaccinated against rabies during the event.
Aside from administering vaccines and spay-neuter operations, a short seminar on animal health education was held, as well as free animal bite consultations.
Freebies such as a t-shirt bearing the image of the rabies awareness month poster, and packs of dog food sponsored by various partner production companies, were given to each pet owner who participated in the program.
The month of March was declared Rabies Awareness Month through Executive Order No. 84.
The program operates under the National Rabies Prevention and Control Program (NRPCP) of the BAI, in accordance with Republic Act (RA) 9482, the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 (Republic Act 9482).
The PCVSD will conduct a free anti-rabies vaccination drive from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on March 3 at Barangay San Miguel (Dalisay Bliss, Lupang Pari), and on March 4 at Barangay Pinagbuhatan (Ilugin Phase 1 Half Court).