LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) — Laoag City took a significant step towards animal welfare and public health with the inauguration of a new animal pound, an animal diagnostic and laboratory clinic, and the City Veterinary Office on June 27 in Barangay Camangaan.
The animal pound can house 50 dogs and 20 cats.
According to Dr. Samantha Licudine, city veterinarian, the facility will also have a holding and diagnostic facility to treat the animals that are rescued.
“We are happy that we finally opened the animal pound and our office. One of our first agenda is to give intensive training to our personnel on how to properly and safely rescue stray animals, how to properly handle them, and, of course, how to care for them,” she said.
She added that there are currently eight rabies-positive cases in the city and seven barangays with a high number of stray animals, further stressing the importance of the addition of an operational animal pound, diagnostic clinic, and laboratory clinic in the city.
Based on the records of the City Veterinary Office, there are more than 18,000 dogs and cats registered in the city.
“So far, we were able to vaccinate more than 1,700 animals this year. We weren’t really able to vaccinate during the COVID-19 pandemic, so we will be working on it now that we can properly operate with our functioning facilities,” Licudine added.
She assured that the city has enough anti-rabies vaccines for animals.
The city veterinarian appealed to pet owners in the city to be responsible in caring for their dogs and cats.
“I want to appeal to the fur parents in Laoag City to meet us halfway. Be responsible in providing them with food and shelter; keep them regularly vaccinated; and keep them inside your property to avoid accidents. We will also conduct anti-rabies vaccinations in the barangays for their convenience as part of our effort to meet them halfway,” she said.
The city veterinary office is now also conducting rescue operations for reported stray animals around the city. (AMB/EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)
