The Philippines is a dog-loving nation, according to data cited by a bill filed at the House of Representatives in 2014. House Bill 4436 noted that there is one pet dog for every eight people in the Philippines as of 2009. The figure may have dramatically gone up in recent years, when more and more Filipinos have adopted not just dogs but also cats, particularly during the pandemic.
It is relatively easy to adopt a dog or cat in the Philippines—one can get a puppy or kitten from the pets of relatives or friends. There are also organizations and shelters where prospective pet owners can source their furry friends. Sometimes, prospective pet owners go to shops if they’re looking for a particular cat or dog breed.
When it comes to responsible pet ownership, however, a survey conducted by Royal Canin revealed that many Filipino pet owners have failed in this area (See, “Low awareness on responsible pet ownership in the Philippines,” in the BusinessMirror, July 10, 2019). The findings indicate that pet medicalization remains relatively low as only 20 percent of local pet owners bring their pets to veterinarians at least once a year. The remaining 80 percent, according to the survey, would only bring in their pets when they are already sick or in need of immediate care.
This is problematic, particularly if pet owners live in crowded areas and there’s a big chance that the dog or cat can be exposed to stray animals that have rabies. According to the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development under the Department of Science and Technology, rabies is still a public health problem in the country. PCHRD also noted that rabies account for around 200 to 300 deaths each year.
PCHRD said most reported cases of rabies infections are caused by domestic pets, such as cats, dogs and rabbits. The rabies virus comes from the animals’ saliva, but it can also be transmitted to humans through biting and scratching. Rabies is a fatal but preventable viral disease, which is why the government is encouraging pet owners to vaccinate their pets and to report stray animals to local government authorities.
The government is targeting to rid the Philippines of rabies by 2022, but it remains to be seen whether this target is feasible given the mobility restrictions during the lockdown to contain the spread of Covid-19. For one, the Bureau of Animal Industry under the Department of Agriculture has sounded the alarm over the shortage in animal and human vaccines in 2019 (See, “Shortage in vaccines may swell rabies cases,” in the BusinessMirror, March 31, 2019). BAI has been banking on the possible increase in the budget of the DA so its rabies program could get additional funds.
Rabies cases may still be few but this should not be overlooked because the virus that causes the disease has a long incubation period. The education and information campaigns of the national and local government units must continue to emphasize prevention and early treatment to prevent deaths from rabies.
2 comments
This editorial is so timely. During this pandemic, so many people got dogs as pets, without knowing that it is a big responsibility. They would carry this dogs on their shoulders, let the the dogs lick their faces, etc. I even saw a few persons kissing their dogs on their lips. Did you know that dogs eat trash, they lick their balls and butts, aside from licking other other dogs’ privates. Uh hu. Even if you bathe your dogs, daily, trim their nails, brush their teeth, (yes some dog owners do that) they are still dogs with fleas. They are still animals which we don’t know if they have other infectious diseases. Animals have natural skin oil like our skin have natural oils, and these two are very different.
Bad news 🙁 DA has re-purposed their budget for rabies vaccines for 2021. The good news is rabies vaccines are super cheap for your pet. Check out your city vet for options.