THE City Government of Zamboanga through the Office of the City Veterinarian (OCVet) has scheduled the conduct of four-day free spay program in several areas in this city.
Dr. Mario Arriola, OCVet chief, said the program will kick off on June 18 at the OCVet’s premises in the village of San Roque.
Arriol said that the subsequent spay/neuter procedures will be conducted at the Mayor Vitaliano Agan Coliseum in Tetuan (June 19); the Girl Scout of the Philippines-Zamboanga City Council Building in Sta. Maria (June 20); and, Zamboanga City State Polytechnic College Gymnasium in Baliwasan (June 21).
To qualify, Arriola said the patient-pets must possess the following qualifications: healthy male and female dogs and cats six months of age or older, must be vaccinated against rabies at least two weeks before the scheduled surgery, must not be pregnant or at least three months after giving birth, and no food and water intake within 12 hours prior to the scheduled surgery.
Arriola said a P100 registration fee per head must be paid pursuant to City Ordinance 241 otherwise known as the Rabie Ordinance of Zamboanga City although the surgery is free of charge.
City Ordinance 241 mandates the registration of dogs in this southern port city.
Arriola said they are looking forward to perform 300 spay/neuter operations in the course of four days.
The program is in partnership with the Humane Society International; Department of Agriculture; and, the Philippine Veterinary Medical Society. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)