Dumaguete City Health Officer Dr. Ma. Sarah Talla said her office will strictly enforce the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 or Republic Act 9482 after a total of 29 animal bite cases have been reported since January.

At a recent forum, Talla said 12 cases were recorded in January, nine in February, and eight this month. The city extended more than P42,000 in assistance to the victims, she added.

Two adults from Bindoy and from Sta. Catalina towns also died due to rabies in March, provincial veterinarian Dr. Antonio Mutia said.

Meanwhile, city veterinarian Dr. Lourdes Socorro advised dog owners to be responsible and keep their dogs leashed and vaccinated to avoid penalty, as this is required by law.

Last year, a total of 150 animal bite cases were recorded in Dumauete, and the city shelled out more than P135,000 in assistance.

The anti-rabies act provides for the control and elimination of human and animal rabies in the country by pushing for responsible pet ownership. Pet owners are also required to keep their dogs from roaming the streets or any public place without a leash, and provide the animals with proper grooming, adequate food and clean shelter.

Local government units are also mandated to ensure that all dogs in their localities are properly immunized and to issue a corresponding dog tag for every immunized and registered dog.

Those unregistered, stray or unvaccinated dogs will be impounded, and those not claimed after three days will be placed for adoption by qualified persons with the assistance of an animal welfare non-government organization, Socorro said.

Pet owners who fail or refuse to have their dogs registered and immunized against rabies will be fined P2,000, while those who refuse to put a leash on their dogs when they are brought outside the house will be fined P500.*RG

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