IN ITS continuing efforts to put a premium on promoting the welfare of animals, the Angeles City Government under the leadership of Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr., has successfully spayed and neutered 44 pets.
The activity on January 28, 2022 was led by the City Veterinary Office headed by Dr. Christian Arcilla in cooperation with volunteer private veterinarian Dr. Michelle Tulabut with the help of four veterinary students from Central Luzon State University namely Kathrine Saiam Laurzano; Daisy Acuña; Angel Mae Magalong; and Arthur Ashley Descanzo.
The program being supervised by Lazatin’s Chief Adviser IC Calaguas and Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel, both animal advocates, is in line with the mass spaying and neutering program of the City Government free of charge.
“Binibigyan po ng importansya ng siyudad ang kapakanan ng mga animals sa pamamagitan ng pagsusulong ng mga programa na nangangalaga sa kanila,” Lazatin said.
In 2021, the City Government surpassed its target to spay and neuter 1,000 pets.
“Just today, 20 po ang nakatanggap ng libreng spay, 24 naman po sa neuter,” Manuel said.
According to Arcilla, the project launched by Lazatin last August 2020 will help animal birth control, specifically the “unwanted animal population.”
This is also a way to stop the increasing case of rabies. The trap-neuter-return program has also prioritized rescued stray pets within the premises of the city hall compound.
“Ang pag-spay at pag-neuter sa mga alagang hayop ang dalawa sa pinakamabisang paraan ng animal sterilization para ma-kontrol ang unwanted animal population, at maiwasan ang pagkalat ng rabies,” he said.
The city is also providing free anti-rabies vaccines to promote responsible pet ownership among Angeleño households, Calaguas said.
This is not the first time that the city has partnered with private veterinarian doctors to perform free spaying and neutering on Angeleño pets.
In February 2021, some 14 private veterinary doctors assisted the city in this project.
Lazatin is also encouraging Angeleños to stop shopping for new pets and, instead, #AdoptDontShop.
All rescued dogs and stray animals housed at the City Animal Pound are up for adoption.
Lazatin has also allocated P10 million for the ongoing construction of the Angeles City “No-Kill” dog pound, which is expected to be completed this 2022.