No animals put down at city pound yet

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City has observed a decline in the implementation of euthanasia among the animals at the city veterinary facility this year.

In an interview, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries chief Dr. Alice Utlang said that although euthanasia is still being implemented in Cebu City, she emphasized that it is only the last recourse among their other efforts at the DVMF.

"Tinuod man nga allowed ta na we euthanize, put to sleep sa mga hayop, but we only do that for example ang mga iro or iring, wala na, di na maayo, unya mag-suffer sila, so we have to put them to sleep," said Utlang.

However, Utlang stated that for the month of January alone, they didn’t have to euthanize any animals in their facility, reflecting a downtrend of 100%. She added that this is a continuing decline from last year, serving as proof that they respect the lives of the animals in the city, especially dogs and cats.

In July 2024, it was reported that mercy killing or euthanasia is still being implemented at the Cebu City pound as a last recourse for dogs given up by their owners.

That is why Utlang previously called on the public to practice responsible pet ownership to prevent or lower the number of incidents that force them to make such decisions.

She said that abandonment of pets is punishable under the Animal Welfare Act. However, she also mentioned that the need to admit animals to the city pound is supported by a city ordinance, with a ?2,500 fee.

Once a pet owner pays the fee, they must also sign a waiver formalizing the surrender of their pet to the facility.

Utlang emphasized that no shelter operates a "no-kill pound", as they are required to put down sickly dogs that should not be allowed to suffer.

"But they die humanely," she assured.

She said that in 2020, the city pound euthanized 196 dogs. This number more than doubled in 2021, with 422; 300 dogs in 2022; and 411 dogs in 2023. From January to May of 2024, the city pound euthanized 261 dogs.

Cebu City was recently named as one of only two cities in the Philippines that made it to the top 10 list of the most pet-friendly travel destinations in Asia, according to a ranking released by digital travel platform Agoda.

Agoda cited a recent study by Allied Market Research, which shows that pet travel is on the rise in Asia, with millennials and Gen Z leading the way as they embrace pet parenthood and splurge on their furry friends. — (FREEMAN)