Barangay Granada, September 2021 Mobile Anti-Rabies Vaccination Campaign

Straight after the alleged “Mass Killing” of stray dogs and cats through poisoning at Providence Subdivision Brgy. Granada that has happened last June 14, 2021.

Village Chief Alfredo Talimodao of Barangay Granada pursued and organized a mobile anti-rabies vaccination campaign in their barangay despite the pandemic for the year 2021. This is not the first time that they have orchestrated such an initiative. Mobile dog vaccination in Barangay Granada has started several years, since 2000.

Barangay Granada mobile dog vaccination is annually maintained with the help of the Bacolod City Veterinary Office. Barangay health workers (BHW’s) assist vaccinators catering 22 puroks, 23 haciendas, and 5 subdivisions on a house to house procedure. The barangay appropriated budget for the volunteers and assistants for their food and transportation allowances as well as gasoline for city vet vehicles if they run out of budget.

Rabies is fatal and they couldn’t run away and act blindly due to the number of dogs in their barangay are tremendously increasing. They wanted a rabies-free barangay if not just to lessen the cases of accidents and dog attacks in their community.

Since they have started this program, only the barangay representatives and city veterinary personnel handled the campaign. The fundamental reason why they hold this annually is for the safety and protection of their constituents.

We have envisioned that one day we will be able to reach every barangay in Bacolod City providing education to the community represented by individuals from every Barangay. Proving seminar to the community on the Animal Welfare Act (RA 8485), fighting against Animal Cruelty, Anti-Rabies Act (RA 9482), and our City Ordinance 544 for Responsible Pet Ownership, an ordinance establishing dog owners’ responsibility requiring enclosures or fenced-in yards for pet dogs as a preventive measure against the occurrence of rabies, injury, damage, and other hazards.

These events should be intended and implemented on a barangay level with the support of the (LGU) Local Government Units both physically and through annual government funding to cater to those families or individuals who cannot afford to pay for the spay and neuter procedures for their pets.

Various animal cruelty reports have been recorded consistently and with that steps on how to file a complaint against animal cruelty should be discussed to empower each individual to step up against neglect and abuse. The seminar should include the difference between a private shelter and a local city pound, comparison between a non-government organization (NGO) and a local government unit (LGU) and its roles, misconception about rabies, the importance of spay and neuter to curbing the overpopulation of strays and to the health of our domesticated pets.

As an animal lover himself, village chief Alfredo Talimodao’s said, “On behalf of the Sangguniang Barangay, we are committed to achieving a rabies-free Barangay Granada for our safety and protection as far as fatal rabies is concerned. We are asking for your cooperation with this program; have all your dogs and cats be vaccinated with anti-rabies vaccine on September 1-3 and 6-10, 2021.

We already posted on Facebook the schedule. Please bear with us. And be responsible dog owners by leashing all your dogs or not allowing them to go out from your compound for we do not tolerate stray dogs in the barangay. Stray dogs increase dog bite victims usually pedestrians, as well as an increase of accident rates particularly to those who are using bicycles (motorized/non-motorized).

After full implementation of this program, stray dog apprehension will follow of course with the help of the Bacolod City Veterinary Office. This is a heads up for all irresponsible dog owners; have empathy to your neighbors and the entire citizenry of this barangay for nothing compares to living in a peaceful and safe community free of rabies from stray dogs.”* (Witch Dog)