QC government seeks site for dog pound

With the increasing number of stray dogs and dog bite cases, the Quezon City government is looking for an area to put up a city dog pound.

Dr. Maria Paz Ugalde, city health department chief, said Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and the city health department have begun looking for a place to put up a dog pound to house askals (asong kalye or stray dogs) and dogs that have bitten humans.

She said the mayor welcomed the proposal for a city dog pound because stray dogs can pose a threat to humans.

"It’s a big undertaking to house stray dogs in one area," Ugalde said.

The city government is also encouraging all barangays in the city to lead a responsible dog ownership campaign at their level and put up a dog pound in their area.

According to Ugalde, more than 1,000 dog bite cases are reported every month from the city’s four districts to the city health department. Payatas A, Payatas B, Batasan Hills and Commonwealth regularly report a high incidence of dog bites.

Cases of dog bites are treated in a clinic at the Quezon City Hall by giving anti-rabies immunization to patients and vaccinations for dogs.

The immunization, which costs 1,200 in private clinics, are given for free to patients who are residents of Quezon City.

Officials of the city health office are scheduled to meet with their counterparts in Marikina City, where the first city dog pound was opened. – Pia Lee-Brago