A four-year-old girl from Barangay Navaluan, Mangaldan, Pangasinan, was bitten multiple times by a dog with rabies that entered the girl’s compound and attacked her family’s pets.

According to the child’s mother, the stray dog fought with their own dogs. They tried to drive it away, but it did not back down. Moments later, her daughter tripped, and the dog attacked her.

"Nadapa ang anak ko, dito na siya dinaganan ng aso, kinagat sa likod ng leeg at sa likod, anim ang kagat ng anak ko," she said.

The child was taken immediately to the hospital for vaccination.

Authorities sent the dog’s head to the Rabies Diagnostic Laboratory (RDL) in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan, where tests confirmed it was positive for rabies.

"Worried po ‘yung magulang, isa-submit po talaga sa RDL sa Sta. Barbara…. nakatanggap kami ng email... confirmed na po talaga ‘yun kaya confidential siya," Dr. Wilino Zacarias from the Municipal Agriculture Office said.

Following the incident, the Municipal Agriculture Office conducted an anti-rabies vaccination drive in Purok 6, Barangay Navaluan.

The Mangaldan Sanitary Inspection Office also disinfected the victim’s compound with chlorine.

Officials said the child is now safe, but they continue to remind pet owners to be responsible.

"Hinigpitan ko talaga, palagi naming sinasabihan ang mga taga-barangay na itali nila ang mga aso nila," Barangay Navaluan Chairperson Francis Lopez said.

Authorities urge the public to follow the local ordinance requiring pet owners to keep their dogs leashed to prevent similar incidents.