The City Veterinary Office (CVO) has appealed to the owners of more than 35,000 population of dogs in Puerto Princesa to be responsible for them this summer when the temperature is high as this could cause them to suffer from heat stroke.
Dr. Indira Santiago, chief of the CVO, said dogs enter the breeding season which is from March to April. This period makes the dogs vulnerable to rabies due to the frequent bite attacks of male dogs fighting for a potential female mate.
“Kapag tag-init breeding season ng mga dogs, so March and April diyan talaga ang [kanilang] breeding season. Ang problema dito sa Pilipinas, hindi lamang sa Puerto Princesa ay nagkikita sila sa mga basurahan kasi siyempre magha-hanap ng pagkain o kaya ay doon sa mga kanal kasi iinom doon ang mga aso. Kadalasan [sa kanila] ay mga gala at doon sila magkikita-kita. Pagkatapos [dahil nga] breeding season, mag-aaway sila kasi may babaeng ready for breeding, tapos ang mga lalaki mag-i-establish ng dominance, so doon magka-kagatan na ‘yong mga lalaki tapos doon na nagkaka-roon ng transfer [ng rabies] mula doon sa isang rabid dog to another dog [then] to healthy dog,” she said.
According to Santiago, a rabid dog can walk up to seven kilometers in just one day.
She noted this increases the possibility of spreading rabies not only to other dogs but to human beings as well.
To prevent this, Santiago reiterated it is important to ensure that dogs are vaccinated which CVO offers for free, properly leashed and placed in the shade, well-fed, and hydrated most especially this summer.
Santiago pointed out that dogs can also suffer from heatstroke.
“Ang pakiusap ko lang sa mga kababayan natin unang-una itali ang ating mga aso. Kung puwede sa loob lang ng kanilang bakuran kasi nga kapag breeding season maraming kumakalat din na mga aso na hindi na natin kilala kung sino ang may-ari. Bigyan ng pagkaing tama, painumin ng tubig, laging lagyan ng naka-standby na pagkain at tubig. Kapag ikukulong niyo naman, huwag naman doon sa ilalim ng araw, sana sa lilim din. Hindi lang rabies ang puwedeng maka-apekto diyan, baka ma-heatstroke ‘yong aso natin,” said Santiago.
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