By Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY – A proposal to amend Davao City’s existing Dog Ordinance is now underway, with plans to expand its scope to cover the welfare of all animals, according to Committee on Agriculture, Aquaculture, Food, and Animals chairperson Councilor Ralph Abella.
Speaking at the Pulong-Pulong sa Dabawenyos media forum on Monday afternoon, January 12, Abella said the amended measure will be renamed the Animal Welfare Ordinance to encompass all animals and promote responsible pet ownership.
Abella said under the Dog Ordinance, dog owners and breeders will be required to ensure that their pets are adequately vaccinated and registered, with mandatory dog tags to help identify ownership.
He said the measure intends to regulate dog ownership and reduce the number of stray dogs in barangays. Now, he added, once the city council approves the amendment of the ordinance, it will cover not only dogs but also any other pet animals.
The councilor emphasized that pet owners will no longer be allowed to let their pets roam freely outside their residences or territory, warning that penalties will be imposed on violators, as identification will now be required through microchips or tags.
Regarding funding for animal shelters, Abella said the city council has not yet determined the level of financial aid to be provided, noting that some shelters already receive support from corporate social responsibility programs and other organizations.
Abella added that consultations have already been held with at least one animal shelter from Panacan in this city, and their recommendations are being considered in the finalization of the ordinance amendments.
Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre, chairperson of the Committee on Cooperative Development and People’s Participation, supports stronger animal welfare policies, noting that there is currently no single office in the executive branch dedicated to animal welfare.
Alejandre said overlapping responsibilities among the Davao City Veterinary Office, City Agriculturist’s Office, and City Health Office have created confusion for concerned animal welfare advocates in addressing animal-related concerns.
“With the support of my colleagues, I hope we can lobby from the legislative branch to the executive branch to create a dedicated office intended for the welfare of pets to oversee them and address necessary concerns,” Alejandre said.
He proposed a “one-stop” animal welfare office that would centralize services and responsibilities related to animal care and protection, adding that the offices he had met with earlier had positively expressed openness to its implementation.
The councilor noted that the City Veterinary Office has already begun microchipping pets, particularly cats and dogs, as a way to help easily identify and trace their owners, and hopefully, soon, reduce the number of stray animals.
Alejandre said he is optimistic that the proposed reforms will move forward and help make Davao City’s local government more pet-friendly while ensuring stronger protection for animal welfare and the people of Davao.
