K-9 service company in Antipolo trains dogs to detect COVID-19

A K-9 service company based in San Jose, Antipolo City has started to train dogs and assess their ability to detect COVID-19 carriers in the country.

According to Emil Sumangil’s report on “24 Oras” on Thursday, Ryia Tabares of the Universal K-9 Training and Services said they have been training 10 canines for the past four months to be able to detect COVID-19-positive individuals.

“This time sa COVID, i-imprint ‘yong COVID-19 na specimen. Ang ginamit namin na specimen is from COVID-19 patients na nag-positive. Kinuha namin ‘yong face mask nila, ‘yong laway nila and also ‘yong mga damit nila na may pawis nila,” Tabares said.

“So far ‘yon pa lang ‘yong nade-detect namin ‘yong kukunin ‘yong mask nila, ‘yong sweat nila pero later on, ideally ang gusto namin, dadaan lang ‘yong tao, alam na natin kung may COVID-19,” she added.

Countries such as Finland, Germany, Iran and France previously started to train dogs for the detection of COVID-19.

Gerry Tabares Jr. said the company has teamed up with the local government of Antipolo for a demonstration of the canines’ ability to detect the virus.

“Significant ‘yong accuracy nila, 96% — that’s based sa ibang bansa. Kaya kami, with the help of Antipolo government, ‘yon ang gusto naming mangyari na we could gather data para ma-prove din natin ‘yong mga aso natin na maging mataas ang accuracy rate,” he said.—Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News