ANGELES CITY The city government has rescued at least 38 stray pets from the premises of five public schools here.

After their rescue, the pets were spayed and neutered.

Rescue operations and free spaying and neutering of the stray pets in the 48 remaining public schools will follow suit.

This after Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr., expanded the trap-neuter-release (TNR) program of the city government to the public schools, coinciding with the Brigada Eskwela.

The TNR program is being supervised by known animal advocates — Chief Adviser IC Calaguas and Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel — with teams formed from the City Veterinary Office led by Dr. Christian Xyric Arcilla.

The said rescued stray pets — 34 cats and four dogs — also received free anti-rabies vaccination.

Lazatin wants to ensure the safety of the children and teachers once face-to-face learning starts.

This is to also help in animal birth control, specifically the “unwanted animal population.”

To recall, Dr. Arcilla has seen the effectiveness of the TNR program launched by Lazatin in 2020, which benefitted more than 1,000 pets.

Among the schools visited by the City Veterinary Office since August 10, 2022 for the undertaking of the TNR program were Amsic Integrated School (13 pets); Malabanias Elementary School (five pets); Cuayan Elementary School (three pets); Pampang Elementary School (three pets); and Angeles City National High School (14 pets).

“The approach is the team will visit the school to rescue the stray pets, and put traps. The trap will bring no harm to the rescued pets,” Dr. Arcilla shared.

In fact, the 30 cages being used for the rescue operation are personal donations of Lazatin, Calaguas, and Manuel, who donated ?15,000 each for the fabrication.

“After the rescue operation, they will be scheduled for the spaying and castration the next day,” the veterinary doctor also said.

Apart from the TNR program in the public schools, the City Veterinary Office is also accommodating walk-in Angeleños who wish to have their pets avail of the free service with given schedule.

Meanwhile, Delio Sannadan, the Junior Head Teacher III of Amsic Integrated School, expressed his gratitude to the city government for implementing this project.