A STRENGTHENED city program has resulted in zero euthanasia cases for impounded dogs in Cebu City from January to March 2025, the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) reported.
DVMF Head Alice Utlang credited the Catch, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return (CNVR) program for this outcome.
She explained that the CNVR approach prevents the overcrowding that previously led to disease outbreaks like distemper.
In the past, such situations forced the euthanasia of infected dogs to protect others. Now, the city impounds, treats, and returns stray dogs.
Data from the DVMF show a marked difference from the same period in 2024, when 184 dogs were euthanized.
The CNVR program began in June 2024 under Dr. Utlang’s leadership. From June to December 2024, the DVMF released 974 of the 2,033 impounded dogs after CNVR procedures.
In the first quarter of 2025, 255 dogs were released through this program. Utlang said many stray dogs are healthy and adoptable.
The program aims to ensure their safety and reduce public health risks, rather than simply removing them from the streets. / PIO