BACOLOD City – Following a series of discussions among officials of the city government and animal welfare advocates, this city created the Bacolod City Animal Welfare Task Force (BACAW-TF).
“This taskforce aims to identify, reassess and act upon animal welfare concerns in the city with the primary goal of ensuring responsible pet ownership,” said Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
The mayor added that the city recognizes the concerns of animal rights groups advocating responsible dog ownership and safeguarding the welfare of impounded animals in the City Dog Pound in Barangay 35.
Leonardia also cited Republic Act 8485, or The Animal Welfare Act of 1998, and City Ordinance 866-2018, which regulates the guardianship of domesticated animals and to control stray and ownerless animals especially dogs and cats.
Leonardia chairs the taskforce, with Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran as co-chair and City Veterinarian Maria Agueda Trinidad de la Torre as vice-chair.
The body has members from the Bacolod City Police Office, City Legal Office, City Health Office, City Engineer’s Office, Public Information Office, Bacolod Animal Chance and Hope (BACH) Project Ph, and PAWSsion Project.
The Sectoral Concerns Office of the City Mayor’s Office was designated as secretariat.
Meanwhile, animal welfare groups in this city welcomed the creation of the BACAW-TF.
“We, from the animal advocacy world, are in jubilation with the issuance of the executive order. This is a leap towards a more humane society,” BACH Project Ph spokesperson Daniel Sam Salvatierra said in a statement.
The PAWSsion Project, on the other hand, acknowledged that impounding of stray animals will continue since it is mandated by law, but said they will continue to reach as many barangays as they can to educate people on responsible pet ownership.
“We will come up with more programs such as free spaying and neutering, and vaccination campaign,” the PAWSsion Project said, adding that it hopes other local government units will follow the response of the city government.(With a report from PNA/PN)
