LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) – The Laoag City government-operated dog pound and veterinary clinic is expected to operate this January 2024 to hold and treat stray dogs who are also possible rabies carriers.
According to the newly assigned city veterinarian, Dr. Samantha Josephine Licuden, they are waiting for the water lines to be finished in the pound before they can operate.
From January to December this year, the city has recorded more than 2,000 cases of animal bites.
Licuden added that this year, Laoag City recorded two cases of rabies infection among residents.
“Kapag nagkaroon ng rabies ang mga aso natin – it is a very fatal disease and pwede itong pumatay ng aso at tao kapag nakagat at hindi ito mabigyan ng anti-rabies vaccine agad,” she said.
(“If dogs catch rabies, this can be a very fatal disease and it can kill dogs and humans when bitten if anti-rabies vaccination is not given immediately,” she said.)
Early next year, the city government will also implement the rescue of stray dogs around the area to be put and treated at the animal pound which is now being finished at Barangay Camanggaan.
In an interview, Mayor Michael Marcos Keon said that the pound will be made to accommodate 70 dogs at a time.
Aside from the dog pound, a city-operated animal clinic will also be put up to provide check-ups and to give medications and vaccines to animals and human victims of animal bites.
“In the building, we’ll have there our office and a small clinic for consultations of minor animal-related injuries through out-patient medications,” the city veterinarian said.
Meanwhile, the City Health Office is continuing to give free anti-rabies vaccinations for animal bite victims to residents of Laoag. (JCR/AMB/EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)
Exterior of the Laoag City dog pound which is expected to be operational by January 2024. (Photo courtesy: Laoag City Government)
