MANILA Mayor Honey Lacuna is urging Manila residents to avail of the free anti-rabies vaccination being offered for their pet dogs and cats in many sites by the local government.
Lacuna made the call in observance of the ‘Rabies Awareness Month,’ as she underscored the need to create awareness on the dangers of rabies, both on the part of the animal, its owner and whoever gets bitten by the unvaccinated animal.
Herself a doctor and owner of 12 dogs, Lacuna said pets that have been vaccinated enjoy better protection and become healthier and more active.
“It is highly important for us to avail of free anti-rabies vaccination for our fur babies, since rabies can be transmitted from animals to human and may even cause death,” she cautioned, as she urged the residents of Manila to join hands with the city government in the effort to have all pets in the city vaccinated and do their share in ensuring that all communities within the city will be safe and healthy at all times.
According to Lacuna, residents may bring their ‘fur babies’ for free anti-rabies vaccination in the city’s designated sites.
The local government, she said, has a vaccination program for pet dogs and cats being carried out in City Hall by the Manila Health Department (MHD) under Dr. Arnold Pangan.
In addition to this, free vaccination is also being given during the regular ‘Kalinga sa Maynila’ that goes to barangays and where the residents may simply bring their pets to avail of the free pet vaccination without having to go all the way to the Manila City Hall.
Lacuna said that the city has eight kinds of animal bite treatment being given for free at the city hall’s animal bite clinic, Sta. Ana Hospital under Director Dr. Grace Padilla and in seven health centers which are being run by the MHD.
The purpose of the program is to help provide safety not only for the pets concerned but moreso, for the members of the community themselves, she said.
