BACOLOD City – The city council is committed in making Bacolod an animal-friendly city.
A weeklong pet festival that started on Sept. 28 and will end on Oct. 4 has been gathering animals and animal lovers at the SM City Bacolod North Transport Hub.
It is a part of the Bacolod Animal Welfare Awareness Week (BAWAW), which is observed in line with City Ordinance 825.
Ordinance proponent Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. said the pet festival is a “giant step in transforming Bacolod City into an animal-friendly city.”
BAWAW is now on its third year. It is supported by various animal lovers’ groups like K9 Obedience Club, Exotic Animal Lovers of Negros, Community Animal Rescue Effort, and AsongPinoy.
According to Gamboa, having a pet festival in the city will raise awareness on the importance of animals in the ecosystem, adding that they need protection from “all forms of cruelty leading to their extinction.”
On Oct. 7, there will also be a dog training contest dubbed as “First BAWAW ASPIN Training Challenge.”
It will start at 2 p.m. and will also be held at the SM City Bacolod North Transport Hub. The contest aims to promote “asong pinoy” breeds and their trainability.
Gamboa also said he is drafting another animal welfare-related ordinance proposal titled “An Ordinance Providing Animal Regulation and Control in the City of Bacolod.”/PN
