DVMF to owners: Pay to turn over unwanted pets

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries is discouraging pet owners from just turning over their pets to their office if they don’t like them anymore.

As one way to discourage dog and cat owners from turning over their pets to DVMF, City Veterinarian Alice Utlang has issued a policy that the surrendered pets would be accepted only after owners have paid P150 for the registration and vaccination fees and donate 10 kilos of pet food.

“Mao nay among gusto to discourage them to just give their pets away.  Magpatugatuga og buhi unya kon dili na sila makaatiman ihatag na lang sa gobyerno.  Unya unsa may ipakaon namo anang ilang iro? Gaabuso sa gobyerno, puno nami sa iro, kami ila himoong killer,” Utlang said.

Utlang said Section 6 of the Republic Act 8485 provides that it shall be unlawful for any persons to torture any animal or neglect to provide adequate care, sustenance or shelter, including the depriving of shelter and food.

She further explained that the city is strictly complying with the provisions of the law that prohibits the killing of dogs and cats as what the city personnel did during the past several years.

The DVMF personnel have stopped rounding up stray dogs, and will only do so if barangay officials make a request.

During the last few years, about 3,000 to 4,000 dogs were killed.

Utlang found out that those dogs that had been found positive of rabies in Cebu City were not stray dogs, but they were pet dogs.

“Luoy kaayo ang mga iro nga ato lang pangdakpon ug patyon nga dili man diay sila ang nagdala og rabies,” said Utlang.

The law requires the owners of dogs to have their pets immunized with anti-rabies vaccine and imposes a P25,000 fine against owners if they will not shoulder the medical expenses of persons bitten by their pets.

“Ang balaud mosilot ‘sab og P2,000 nga multa kon dili mopa-injection og anti-rabies vaccine sa ilang mga iro,” said Utlang.  — (FREEMAN)