Matagoan celebrated with free vet services

TABUK CITY -- Pet owners and their furry friends walked with pride as they strutted around Tabuk City as part of a series of veterinary missions by Tabuk City Veterinary Office in partnership with Dept. of Agriculture-Cordillera Administrative Region during the Matagoan Festival on June 21-22.

Free veterinary services such as rabies vaccination, deworming, pet consultation, and neutering were made available at the Tabuk City Hall grounds.

A total of 29 pets were neutered with a breakdown of 18 dogs and 5 cats castrated, and 4 dogs and 2 cats spayed.

There were 41 pets vaccinated and given tags and scarf with the text “I’m Rabies Vaccinated” emblazoned on it.

Dr. Carmen Wanas of the CVO-Tabuk said the activity was in line with the Rabies Prevention and Control Program of the Philippines.

“This vet mission also serves as rabies information campaign to the people of Tabuk. The activity was conducted during the Matagaon festival so that we can show and instill responsible pet ownership to a bigger audience,” she added.

Also, through neutering, Dr. Wanas hoped to lower the population of stray animals in the city that may be potential sources of rabies.

Accordingly, the rabies virus is 100 percent fatal but also 100% preventable through vaccination.

As of the present, Kalinga has six positive cases of rabies with three in Tabuk City, as recorded by the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory-CAR.

Meanwhile, Stakeholders were oriented on good animal Husbandry practices (GAHP) here June 20 here at Golden Berries Hotel and Convention Center.

The orientation is a series of information caravans by the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera Administrative Region that seeks to create cooperation and capability building among livestock stakeholders in the Cordillera to ensure animal products are safe for human consumption.

Process and responsibilities of stakeholders were laid down for the participants during orientation.

GAHP is one of the programs in the country which promotes sustainable agricultural practices at the farm level.

The code of GAHP was formulated to set standards of good practice in animal farming or rearing. The minimum requirements by this code should be complied with by stakeholders to satisfy consumers’ expectation on production of wholesome and safe food.

To date, there are no GAHP certified farms in the region so during the orientation, it was bared application for the certification is free of charge.

Also, any farm is eligible to apply, may it be private or government funded.

The local government unit’s counterpart is to assist in compliance of  requirements. -- AyraGalanza