One hundred thirteen dogs, accompanied by ninety-four pet parents, joined the Talakudong Festival Dogs’ Day celebration on September 17, 2016. Organized by City Councilor Renante Duque, City Veterinarian Dra. Hermenegilda S. Sanque, and the personnel from the Office of the City Veterinary Services of the City Government of Tacurong, the celebration began with a Fun Walk and ended with a slew of fun activities and free vet services at the Tacurong City Sports and Cultural Center.
The free vet services included deworming, vitamin shots, and anti-rabies vaccines for the registered dogs. There were also a limited number of registrants who were lucky to avail of the free castration service.
The highlights of the event were the Fastest Eater competition and Fashion Show for the small breed and large breed categories. Lemons, a Jack Russel Terrier, won first place as Fastest Eater in the small breed category while Choco, a Chocolate Labrador Retriever, won in the large breed category. For the Fashion Show, the Japanese Spitz Puroro was first placer in the small breed category while Loki, a German Shepherd, won in the large breed category. The firs place winners each took home dog foods, a plaque, a certificate of participation, and Php500 in cash prize.
Early Bird Awards were also given to the top three earliest registrants in the small breed and large categories.
The judges for the two competitions were Dra. Jeneffer Bulawan, Chief of Regional Animal Diagnostics Laboratory – Region XII, Dr. Edwin Nacito, Sultan Kudarat Provincial Veterinarian, Dra. Lea Makailing of Koronadal City Veterinary Office, Dra. Shiela Mae de Jesus and Dr. Jubieneaur Moscoso, veterinarians from the Department of Agriculture Region XII.
Also present during the event were City Councilors Welson Ferrer and Carlos Segura, Jr.
The Talakudong Festival Dogs’ Day was also an advanced celebration of the World Rabies Day on September 28. (Yen Robles, LGU-Tacurong Information)