The Pangasinan Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) is targeting to vaccinate against rabies some 240,000 dogs and cats in the province this year.

“The number is 70 percent of the total population of cats and dogs in the entire province,” assistant provincial veterinarian Jovito Tabajeros said in a phone interview on Thursday.

The Pangasinan PVO has been conducting veterinary medical missions in the different localities in the province to boost the immunization program.

Free services such as consultation, anti-rabies vaccination, vitamins administration, castration of dogs and cats, and spaying of cats will be offered.

“For castration and spaying services, (a) maximum of five pets per owner will be allowed. Fasting of pets is required for at least eight hours before the time of surgery or operation,” Pangasinan PVO announced on its Facebook page.

The venues for the veterinary medical mission for this month in line with the celebration of Rabies Awareness Month are in the municipal gymnasium in Basista town on March 4, provincial veterinary clinic in Lingayen town on March 7, and municipal auditorium in Umingan town on March 10.

In a report, the Provincial Health Office’s Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit said there are zero cases of rabies in the province from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28 this year as against the three cases in the same period last year.

The three cases recorded last year were in Alaminos City, Bani, and Bolinao towns. (PNA)