A four-year-old boy sustained injuries in the face after he was attacked by a dog in Barangay Longos, Calasiao, Pangasinan.

Marites Dela Cruz, the victim's grandmother, said the child was playing by the road when the dog suddenly attacked and bit his face near the eye. Fortunately, the bite did not affect his eye.

"Nagtatakbuhan ang mga bata tapos ‘yung aso gumanyan, dito niya nakagat sa malapit sa mata, buti hindi niya nabulag," Dela Cruz said.

The boy received treatment including anti-rabies vaccines, which was shouldered by the dog's owner.

The Center for Health Development (CHD-1) said completing rabies vaccinations is crucial for animal bite victims.

From January 2024 to June 2024, nine deaths caused by rabies were recorded in Pangasinan.

"Ang rabies kapag tumama sa isang tao at nagkaroon ng sintomas… 100 percent na fatal ‘yan," Dr. Rheuel Bobis from CHD-1, said.

ORDINANCE

To prevent such incidents, Barangay Longos is enforcing the "Aso Mo, Itali Mo" ordinance strictly. Warning signs have been put up around the barangay, including a reminder of the P500 fine for violators.

As of this writing, the barangay has already fined eight pet owners for allowing their dogs to roam freely.

"Alam naman natin na kapag ang aso [kapag] nakakagat [ay] nakaka-disgrasiya sa tao [na] pwede pa ikamatay, kaya strictly implementing tayo," Joseph Uson, Barangay Chairman, said.