LOS BAÑOS, Laguna (PIA) – The municipal agriculture office of Los Baños, Laguna has launched a public awareness campaign on rabies prevention in line with the celebration of Rabies Awareness Month.
In accordance with the theme, “Rabies-free na pusa’t aso, Kaligtasan ng Pamilyang Pilipino”, the agriculture office initiated programs targeting students and pet owners.
One of the programs conducted was a dog and cat walk where dog and cat owners paraded with their pets, demonstrating the owners’ solidarity with the objective of making Los Baños a safe and rabies-free community.
Since rabies is considered as one of the most dangerous viral diseases that infects the central nervous system of animals and transmitted to humans through bites, scratches and exposure to infected saliva, residents of Los Baños were urged to adopt responsible pet ownership practices.
This includes providing food and shelter for pets, having them vaccinated to prevent from contracting some serious diseases, grooming of pets regularly and neutering pets to reduce the risk of certain health problems and for population control.
Miraflor Tado, chief of staff of the Los Baños mayor’s office, emphasized the significance of public involvement in commemorating the Rabies Awareness Month, as it not only benefits human welfare but also the safety of animals.
“We celebrate RAM not only in the town of Los Baños, but also in neighboring towns to reach our citizens and inform them about the persistent threat of rabies. It is imperative that we responsibly care for our dogs and cats to ensure peace of mind for ourselves and the health of our pets,” Tado explained.
In celebration of the Rabies Awareness Month, the municipal government of Los Baños initiated programs targeting students and pet owners for its anti-rabies drive. (CO/PIA-4A)
As part of the month-long observation, the agriculture office is also set to conduct free spay and castration for dogs and cats on Thursday, March 21 in a bid to provide good health and positive well-being of animals, and to control their population in the town.
Municipal Councilor Miko Pelegrina, a pet owner himself, agrees that practicing responsible pet ownership is a way to help prevent the spread of rabies. He also urged fellow pet owners to register their pets and ensure they receive timely vaccines.
From January to February, Los Baños recorded a total of 198 registered pets and the said number is expected to increase in the coming months.
If bitten by an animal suspected with rabies, the Department of Health reminds a patient to immediately go to a secured area, rinse the bitten body part with water for more than 10 minutes while using an iodine-based solution or anti-viral medication.
A patient should also immediately seek an appointment at the nearest health center to secure a vaccine, and undergo a pre-exposure or post-exposure prophylaxis.
A dog or a cat with rabies will show symptoms such as excessive salivation, weakness, seizures, aggression, and any other abnormal behavior that may lead to their death after 10 days of biting a human. (CO/PIA-4A)
