THE Iloilo City Veterinarian Office has started Mass Anti-Rabies Vaccination Program at villages Bonifacio and Yulo Drive in Arevalo District on Tuesday, March 13.

The initiative is in line with the Rabies Awareness Month celebration this March.

“Having a dog as a pet is fun but we must also take note that rabies can kill humans. Aside from proper care and attention, we must protect our dogs through vaccination. We are very thankful for the rabies vaccines allocated to the districts,” Mayor Jose Espinosa III said.

The mass vaccinations will also be conducted in barangays Calaparan on March 14; Quezon and San Jose on March 15; Dulonan on March 16; and Sooc on March 20.

A total of 4,000 rabies vaccine vials were given to the city by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry-Western Visayas.

Republic Act 9482 or Anti Rabies Act of 2007 states that pet owners who fail or refuse to have their dog registered and immunized against rabies shall be punished by a fine of P2,000.

Those who refuse to have their dog vaccinated against rabies shall be liable to pay for the vaccination of both the dog and the individual bitten.

Those who refuse to have their dog put under the observation after said dog has bitten an individual shall be meted a fine of P10,000.

Those who refuse to have their dog put under the observation and do not shoulder the medical expenses of the person bitten by their dog shall be meted a fine of P25,000.

Those who refuse to put a leash on their dogs while they are brought outside the house shall be meted a fine of P500 for each incident. (PR)