Friday, October 13, 2006

Dog bites increasing, city health office warns


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The Committee on health chaired by City Councilor Simeon Licayan is now apprehensive on the tremendous increase of dog bite cases in both urban and rural barangays in the city.

Licayan said that recent report submitted to his committee revealed that no less than three cases of dog bites reported to the City Health Office (CHO).

"This is very alarming. This means that the number of stray dogs are already increasing," he said.

Even with the number of cases brought to the CHO for treatment, Dr. Rachel Dilla said they have enough supply of medicines for cure against possible rabies infection.

"Bisan daghan nadala sa clinic naa pa gihapon ta'y mga tambal nga ikahatag. Pero mas maayo gyud nga masulbad na kining pag-pamaak sa mga iro sa kadalanan," she said.

The recent incident included a government employee assigned at the Hall of Justice who was bitten by a suspected rabid dog several meters from the City Veternary Office (CVO).

The City Veterinary Office is tasked to conduct "Operation Pamatong" against stray and suspected rabid dogs. They are also tasked to vaccinate dogs against rabies disease.

Licayan said his committee has recommended for the massive apprehension of stray dogs within the residential and commercial areas in the city including those in the subdivision area.

He said he received several complaints that residents in the subdivision area were chased by stray dogs who roamed around the streets looking for food.

Kung makapaak kini dili nimo maila ang tag-iya,? he added.

City Veterinary officer-in-charged Dr. Perla T. Asis said they only had one-team who conducted the Operation Pamatong in the entire city.

She said for the month of August alone, they had able to apprehend some 132 stray dogs from the area of barangays Kauswagan, Iponan, Carmen, Lapasan, Consolacion, Patag, Bulua and Upper Balulang.

Of the 132 apprehended only 15 were claimed by the owners after paying administrative fine of P250.00. Those unclaimed were being subjected to euthenasia.


During the committee meeting, De Asis suggested that those dogs remain unclaimed would be sold to the crocodile farm owned by the Limketkai located at Opol, Misamis Oriental.


"Mas maayo na lamang nga ibaligya para maka-collect of revenues ang siyudad," she said.


Mindanao Gold Star Daily