The local government of Zamboanga City is intensifying efforts to control stray animals after the city recorded at least 18 cases from January to October 2025.

Ten cases involved rabies in animals while eight cases involved rabies in humans.

According to the local government, the Zamboanga City Multi-Agency Task Force on the Prevention of Zoonotic and Non-Zoonotic Transboundary Animal Diseases cited the urgent need to control the stray animal population in a meeting held on November 27, 2025.

The task force also passed a resolution directing all barangays to comply strictly with the Zamboanga City Pound Ordinance.

During the meeting, the City Veterinary Office reported that a total of 22,522 dogs and cats were vaccinated from January to October 2025, which was equivalent to 31 percent of the target for the year based on the estimated population of 71,320 dogs and cats.

In the same period, the office also administered anti-rabies vaccines to 20,005 patients.

In terms of city pound operations, up to 2,745 dogs and cats were also surrendered by barangays, 83 of which were released while 26 others were adopted.

The local government added that around 154 animals were spayed and 182 were neutered as part of its ongoing population control initiatives.