Santa Luffy, an adorable dog from San Simon, Pampanga, stood out in a cute Santa costume as one of 300 pets who received free rabies vaccinations from the Provincial Veterinary Office.

The initiative aims to protect pets and keep their owners safe from rabies.

“Goods po siya, para hindi po maano yung mga dogs po, para safety din sa mga tao,” Irene Balajadia, Santa Luffy’s fur mommy, said.

The program is part of the provincial government's efforts to reduce rabies cases.

“Tumataas po kasi yung kaso natin ng animal bite and also human rabies... kaya ngayon po ginawa po nating pilot ang Municipality of San Simon,” Jolly Garcia, head of the Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, said.

In addition to the vaccinations, government agencies conducted lectures on responsible pet ownership and rabies prevention to raise awareness among the community.

Rabies prevention has become crucial, as over 17,000 animal bite cases have been reported in Pampanga from January to September 2024.