Mandaue City spokesperson: Killing of stray dogs is supported by law

CEBU, Philippines - Despite an online appeal circulating in a social networking site, the Mandaue City government will push through with the killing of 35 stray dogs, saying it is allowed under a local ordinance.

The city’s spokesperson, Roger Paler, explained that under Ordinance 99/016, which mandated the creation of the Mandaue City Pound, the stray dogs are seized and placed at the city pound, and later on exterminated, if the owners don’t claim them or they are no longer fit to be released to the public.

In a Facebook post, Paul Ouano said that there are 35 stray dogs inside the Mandaue City pound scheduled to be killed by November 1.

Ouano asked those interested to save the dogs to adopt them, and asked the city government to extend the scheduled execution.

Section 10 of the ordinance prohibits stray dogs, cats and other domesticated animals that are “loose, unrestrained, and not under control of their owner to be in any public place.”

Also, under the ordinance, which was passed in 1999, the city pound officer is directed to supervise and monitor the daily rounds for the capture of stray animals.

“Stray animals caught and impounded shall be kept and proceeded against in accordance with the applicable provision of this ordinance,” the ordinance read.

The city pound office then gives the owner five working days after the animal is seized to redeem it. Then a notice shall be posted that the animals will either be exterminated, if they “pose a threat to health and public safety”, or sold at a public auction.

 Section 17 of the ordinance also says that “at any time before the sale or extermination” of the impounded animal, the owner “may redeem” it after paying the necessary fees incidental to its impounding. However, the same section said that only those animals fit to be returned to the owners are released, while those found to be “threats to public safety and public health” will remain in the impounding area to later undergo “euthanasia”, or “any of the humane methods of killing animals.”

Paler said the city pound also offers adoption to the seized dogs, but only those that are not sick or weak.

“Asa man imo, mapaakan ka or ma-impound ang iro?” he asked. — (FREEMAN)