Tacloban: The city government has stepped up its promotion of responsible pet ownership by providing accessible veterinary services to the public as part of the observance of Rabies Awareness Month. Personnel from the City Veterinary Office (CVO) have been visiting various communities across the area to administer mass vaccinations, a crucial measure to protect pets from rabies, a deadly disease.

According to Philippines News Agency, with assistance from local barangay officials, vaccinators from the CVO conducted house-to-house rounds. They are also delivering basic veterinary services to walk-in clients, as stated by CVO head Eunice Alcantara in an interview on Thursday. Since March 1, the city government has extended treatment and other veterinary services to 3,296 pets in the city.

On Wednesday, city veterinarians hosted the campaign at Robinsons North Tacloban during "I Love My Pet Day," where pet owners and animal lovers gathered to access free services, including dog castration and the distribution of dog tags. The program also introduced microchipping and pet digitization, which involves giving pets a permanent identification and storing their records in a digital system for easier tracking.

Additionally, castration services were emphasized as essential for controlling pet populations and reducing strays, which pose a risk of spreading diseases. The CVO continues to urge residents to actively participate in rabies prevention by making sure their pets are vaccinated, registered, and properly cared for.