PRESS RELEASE
The national and Visayas chapters of the Philippine Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) in partnership with the Department of Agriculture 6, Iloilo City Veterinary Office and Humane Society International (HIS) conducted a five-day dog population management, and rabies elimination activity in the barangays of Calumpang, Calaparan, San Juan, and Sto. Niño in Molo.
According to PVMA president Dr. Joy Santos, they target 200 dogs to be spayed and neutered.
“We provided it for free. Spaying is a surgery on animals that mainly removes the ovary and uterus of female, while neuter or castration is for male dogs and cats,” she explained.
Thirty veterinary trainees and mentors nationwide underwent advance training on large volume high quality spay and neuter to manage dog population and eradicate cases of animal rabies in the four barangays in Iloilo City.
“This is one way to capacitate our veterinarians for professionalism and efficiency towards the conduct of quick spay and neuter activities in the region,” Santos added.
Iloilo City ranked third in the rabies cases and animal bite incidents nationwide, according to Santos.
“This activity is in preparation for the upcoming PVMA national convention on February 20 to 22 at the Iloilo Convention Center. We will hold technical and plenary sessions on livestock focusing on rabies, animal welfare, emerging and re-emerging diseases,” she added. (JCVelario/DA-RAFIS 6; and JBGarcia/DA-RAFIS 6)
