Friday, September 05, 2008 City vet office records 105 dog bite cases
THE City Veterinary Office (CVO) has recorded a total of 105 dog bite cases in Dumaguete City in the first seven months of this year.
Records show that the most number of dog bite cases were recorded in July with 22, followed by 20 in June and March, 18 in January, 10 in April, eight in February, and seven in May.
According to CVO Records Officer designate Inocencia Ozoa, the said figures are based only on the dog bite cases that were reported in their office, as she said there are unreported cases.
The CVO also sent 13 dog head samples to the Regional Diagnostic Laboratory in Cebu since January to July this year, all of which came back negative for rabies.
"So far this year, we had no positive cases for rabies. Hopefully, we'll remain rabies-free for the rest of the year," said Ozoa.
The dog population in Dumaguete City is estimated at 9,000.
The CVO, under its daily dog extermination program, has exterminated a total of 781 stray dogs in the city since January to July this year.
Ozoa said the dogs that were exterminated also include dogs that were diseased or of old age upon the request of the dog owners.
Meanwhile, Provincial Veterinary Officer Dr. Antonio Mutia said the Provincial Rabies Diagnostic Laboratory will start operating starting September 2008 with the assistance of the Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.
Mutia said a payment of P250 shall be collected per dog head sample examined.
