COMBINING ANIMAL RELATED LOCAL FUNCTIONS

Some Local Government Units (LGUs) have city or municipal veterinary officers (MVOs), and some do not. Obviously, it all depends on the availability of budgets, or the acceptability of certain public health standards. While some LGU officials might argue that animal health is not their priority, I could also argue that uncontrolled animal population could pose a threat to public health. As I understand it, MVOS are mostly focused on farm animals, and not on pet animals or stray dogs and cats. Aside from that, it is unclear whether they could also treat victims of animal bites, if and when the municipal health officers (MHOs) are not available. Recently, it was announced that Bhutan is the first country in the world that has completed the 100% sterilization and vaccination of street dogs. That is a huge achievement, considering that some countries that are richer could not even take care of their homeless people who are living in the streets. I will not even ask how many percent of our street dogs have been sterilized and vaccinated, because many of our LGU officials are probably not aware of that need. Be that as it may, there is still a need to provide free veterinary services for the poor people who could not afford it. As a practical approach, perhaps the MVOs could be tasked to do that as well, so that there will be no need to hire new veterinary doctors. Just Google the Bhutan story. IKE SENERES/09088877282/1-12-24