The Bacolod City Veterinary Office (CVO) is urging dog owners to register their pets in compliance with a city ordinance and to strengthen the local anti-rabies program.

Dr. John Michael Cabuguason, the assistant city veterinarian, said in an interview yesterday that the registration of dogs would provide the CVO the data to determine the budget to be allocated for the purchase of anti-rabies vaccines.

“Aside from the fact that it is mandated by the law, it is also important that we have data for budget allocation. We don’t want any pets left behind because we don’t have the accurate data,” he added.

He said this would also help the CVO in terms of regulating canine-related activities.

Registration of dogs is provided in City Ordinance No. 544, series 2011 or “An ordinance establishing dog owners, requiring enclosures or fenced-in yards for pet dogs as a preventive measure against the occurrence of rabies injury, damage and other hazards.”

Section 7 states that owners shall register their pet dogs to the CVO upon payment of P50 as registration fee to the City Treasurer’s Office.

“Bacolod pet owners are strongly advised to have their pets registered to establish responsibility and safety for both owners and animals,” the city government said.

In 2024, the CVO vaccinated 65,156 dogs and cats, which is equivalent to 82 percent of the city’s pet animal population of 79,061.

Among the 61 villages, 58,590 pet animals were vaccinated in urban barangays and 6,908 in rural barangays.

The CVO catered to 468 walk-in vaccinations at its office located in Barangay 35, and rescued and impounded 490 dogs and cats last year.

In line with the anti-rabies campaign and the promotion of animal welfare in public schools, the CVO also launched the “Libre Kapon and Bakuna” or free neuter and vaccination program in public schools. (PNA)