HELP! MY DOG WAS CAUGHT AND TAKEN TO THE POUND! IS THIS RIGHT/LEGAL?
QUESTION:
My dog (or my neighbor's dog) was caught and was taken to the pound! Is this right? What do I do?
(Hinuli yung aso ko, may karapatan ba silang kunin yung aso ko? Dun lang naman siya sa labas ng gate namin.)
Answer:
Under RA9482: The Anti Rabies Act, dog catchers and employees of the city pound are authorized to catch strays and/or loose dogs running around in public using humane methods. Owned dogs out in public that are not under the control and supervision of their owner (i.e., owned dog allowed to roam the streets without a leash and without his owner, owned dog is just outside owner's gate but with no leash, accidentally ran out) are immediately considered strays and are to be captured for the public's safety. Animal control officers and dog catchers do not need to ask permission from the owner to catch and impound these dogs.
Dogs that have been captured by Animal Control officers are placed in the pound where they are kept for a fixed holding period. Upon the expiry of this holding period, if no one claims ownership of the captured dogs, or no one adopts them, they are euthanized (legal under approved methods of euthanasia stated in Administrative Order 13 Revised Rules on Euthanasia for Animals). The most humane way to euthanize an animal is through barbiturates.
Reality in the Pound. Space is most often limited with as many as 10 dogs being forced into a cage built only for two. They will also hardly ever be given food or water. Fights will often break out because of these stressful conditions and many dogs succumb to injury as they will also hardly have access to medical attention. Pound officials simply won't bother as the dogs will be put down after the holding period is up anyway.
Owners whose pets were caught roaming the streets or public places should claim their pets immediately. The holding period of dogs in the pound vary depending on the city ordinance (from 24 hours to 3 days to 1 week). Yes, there will be a fee to pay to claim your dog, but paying that fee is better than paying with your dog's life.
People can write to the City Mayor directly as the City Pound is under the Health Services Department of the LGU if they want to make a formal complaint on any of the following issues re: dog catchers employed by the City:
1. inhumane manner of catching - violates RA8485 The Animal Welfare Act
2. disrespectful demeanor of dog catchers
We would like to remind everyone to please keep your pets on leash when in public places, regardless of size or of training. Not only is this a responsible thing to do, it is also a requirement stated in the RA9482: Anti Rabies Act. Please download it here for your reference (in PDF format): RA9482 Anti Rabies Act of 2007
Please also keep your pets indoors and/or make sure your home/yard/lot is properly fenced to prevent your pets from running out of your home and being injured by vehicles or picked up by city dog catchers and animal control officers or worse, dog meat traders.
It is inconsiderate to other people and irresponsible to let them run loose outside your gate or property to exercise or to eliminate (pee/poo) even if it is just for a little while - if you must do so, put them on a leash and take them out for a walk, and don't forget to clean up your pet's mess.
To reiterate:
WALANG ASONG GALA KUNG WALANG MAY-ARI NA PABAYA. There would be no dogs (stray or owned) who would be caught, impounded, euthanized, harmed or killed if there were no irresponsible owners who allow their pets to roam freely outside the home and who spay/neuter their pets.
My dog (or my neighbor's dog) was caught and was taken to the pound! Is this right? What do I do?
(Hinuli yung aso ko, may karapatan ba silang kunin yung aso ko? Dun lang naman siya sa labas ng gate namin.)
Answer:
Under RA9482: The Anti Rabies Act, dog catchers and employees of the city pound are authorized to catch strays and/or loose dogs running around in public using humane methods. Owned dogs out in public that are not under the control and supervision of their owner (i.e., owned dog allowed to roam the streets without a leash and without his owner, owned dog is just outside owner's gate but with no leash, accidentally ran out) are immediately considered strays and are to be captured for the public's safety. Animal control officers and dog catchers do not need to ask permission from the owner to catch and impound these dogs.
Dogs that have been captured by Animal Control officers are placed in the pound where they are kept for a fixed holding period. Upon the expiry of this holding period, if no one claims ownership of the captured dogs, or no one adopts them, they are euthanized (legal under approved methods of euthanasia stated in Administrative Order 13 Revised Rules on Euthanasia for Animals). The most humane way to euthanize an animal is through barbiturates.
Reality in the Pound. Space is most often limited with as many as 10 dogs being forced into a cage built only for two. They will also hardly ever be given food or water. Fights will often break out because of these stressful conditions and many dogs succumb to injury as they will also hardly have access to medical attention. Pound officials simply won't bother as the dogs will be put down after the holding period is up anyway.
Owners whose pets were caught roaming the streets or public places should claim their pets immediately. The holding period of dogs in the pound vary depending on the city ordinance (from 24 hours to 3 days to 1 week). Yes, there will be a fee to pay to claim your dog, but paying that fee is better than paying with your dog's life.
People can write to the City Mayor directly as the City Pound is under the Health Services Department of the LGU if they want to make a formal complaint on any of the following issues re: dog catchers employed by the City:
1. inhumane manner of catching - violates RA8485 The Animal Welfare Act
2. disrespectful demeanor of dog catchers
We would like to remind everyone to please keep your pets on leash when in public places, regardless of size or of training. Not only is this a responsible thing to do, it is also a requirement stated in the RA9482: Anti Rabies Act. Please download it here for your reference (in PDF format): RA9482 Anti Rabies Act of 2007
Please also keep your pets indoors and/or make sure your home/yard/lot is properly fenced to prevent your pets from running out of your home and being injured by vehicles or picked up by city dog catchers and animal control officers or worse, dog meat traders.
It is inconsiderate to other people and irresponsible to let them run loose outside your gate or property to exercise or to eliminate (pee/poo) even if it is just for a little while - if you must do so, put them on a leash and take them out for a walk, and don't forget to clean up your pet's mess.
- CITY POUND NOT PRACTICING HUMANE METHODS FOR EUTHANASIA: If you have firsthand knowledge that the city pound is not practicing humane methods for euthanizing the unclaimed dogs, please provide the name, address and contact number of person-in-charge of said pound and your witness affidavit (details as to how you know the pound is practicing such illegal methods for euthanasia such as Tambucho Gassing or Electrocution) - send info TO: philpaws@paws.org.ph Please also provide your name and contact number in your email. Click here to see a sample witness affidavit, this can be written in English or Filipino.
- CITY POUND STAFF ARE CRUEL TO THE DOGS / CITY POUND NEGLECTING TO PROVIDE FOOD, WATER AND SHELTER: If you have firsthand knowledge that the dog catchers or persons in the city pound are violating RA8485 The Animal Welfare Act (i.e., neglecting, abusing or killing the dogs they have caught in a manner using illegal methods), please refer to HOW TO REPORT ANIMAL CRUELTY and submit the necessary info of the city pound dog catcher or city pound official (name, address), address of city pound and your witness affidavit stating the details/personal knowledge of the cruel acts - send info TO: philpaws@paws.org.ph A sample affidavit is provided in the link. Please also provide your name and contact number in your email.
Despite knowing that the dogs in the city pound who are not adopted or claimed by their owners shall be condemned to death (by means of euthanasia / humane procedures as determined by the law) once the holding period has lapsed, the city pound must still provide proper food, water and shelter, and should practice humane treatment to the animals - in accordance with RA8485 The Animal Welfare Act Section 6 where it states it is unlawful for any person to maltreat any animal and to deprive or neglect to provide adequate care, sustenance, shelter.
To reiterate:
- Please keep your pets on leash when in public places, regardless of size or of training.
- Please keep your pets indoors or make sure your home/yard/lot is properly fenced to prevent your pets from running out of your home and being injured by vehicles or picked up by dog catchers or dog meat traders.
- Please CLAIM your pet immediately if it is impounded.
It is your responsibility to keep them safe from harm and to keep them from harming others.
WALANG ASONG GALA KUNG WALANG MAY-ARI NA PABAYA. There would be no dogs (stray or owned) who would be caught, impounded, euthanized, harmed or killed if there were no irresponsible owners who allow their pets to roam freely outside the home and who spay/neuter their pets.
RELATED LINKS
- Animal Control vs Animal Welfare
- Infographic on RA9482 The Anti Rabies Act, pounds, responsibilities of pet owners
(download: English) (download: Filipino) - Responsible Pet Ownership
- Why are there strays on the streets?
- How to get strays off the streets?
- Spay/Neuter - "Kapon"
- WSPA Methods of Euthanasia of Dogs and Cats:Comparison and Recommendations.pdf
- Frequently Asked Questions on Tambucho-Killing
LIST OF CITY POUND LOCATIONS IN METRO MANILA
If your city pound is not listed here, contact your CITY HALL or Local Government Office and inquire. The City Pound is under the City Veterinarian's office and/or the City Health office. Contact the City Vet Office to confirm their policies, holding period and claiming procedure.
- Makati City Vet Office
Pembo Multipurpose Building, Cadena De Amor St. Barangay Pembo, 1200 Makati
Pembo Office Phone and Fax No.: 757-14-13
Makati City Pound
MAPSA Compound, Malugay St., Barangay San Antonio Makati City
Makati City Pound Phone: 889-79-49
Steps to claim from Makati City Pound:
1. Check if your pet is in the dog pound
2. If the pet is impounded, proceed to the pound keeper. If the dog is vaccinated, show the vaccination certificate to the pound keeper or registration receipt from the Barangay. If no certificate/receipt can be shown, pound keeper checks the master list.
3. Order of payment given to the owner indicating the amount to be paid.
4. Proceed to the cashier (2nd floor- MAPSA) for the payment of penalties
5. Show official receipt to pound keeper, the OR no. is recorded.
6. Dog is released to the owner.
(Source: http://www.makati.gov.ph/portal/uploads/staticmenu/docs/public_safety.pdf)
- Mandaluyong City Pound/Animal Shelter
C3-Welfare Compound, Martinez St. Brgy Addition Hills
(behind Police Precinct 6, beside the Hardin ng Pag-Asa Botanical Gardens)
- Manila City Pound
Vitas Street, Tondo, Manila
Office Hours: 7am-4pm
Dra. Javier
Telephone: 7089947 - Marikina City Vet Office
Public Service Center,
Agora Complex, Gil Fernando Avenue, Bgy. Sto Nino
Telephone: 475-4719
http://www.marikina.gov.ph/#!cvo
- Pasig City Dog Pound
Pasig City Fire Station at C. Raymundo Ave.
(near Sta. Clara de Montefalco Church)
Pasig City Veterinarian - Dr. Rogelio L. Reyes - tel. # 640-2058
Steps to claim from Pasig City Pound:
1. Go to the City Vet's office at the DSWD compound near the Pasig Public Market. Look for Dr. Glenn Manlapid, City Vet.
2. The claimant will be interviewed by the City Vet, and will be given a slip of paper which is to be presented to the Pasig City Municipal Cashier. The claimant will need to present the slip of paper to pay for the release fee in the amount of 150 pesos.
3. The claimant can return to the City Vet office, confirm payment of the release fee, and can then proceed to the City Pound to claim the dog.
(Source: http://maxine.co/dogs/) - Quezon City Pound
Payatas
QC City Veterinarian's Office - tel. # 9884242 loc 8036
Steps to claim from QC City Pound:
1. Secure permit from QC City Hall in QC Circle.
2. With the permit, proceed to Payatas dumpsite to confirm if pet is at the pound.
3. Once pet has been identified at the pound, proceed back to QC City Hall to pay the fine to claim.
4. Proceed back to the pound to claim your pet.
- San Juan City Pound
San Juan City Veterinarian - Dr. Jerry Alcantara - tel. # 728-9780 - Valenzuela City Pound
Valenzuela City Veterinarian - Dr. Basil B. Sison
Telephone 352-3000 local 283
3rd floor,Annex Building, Valenzuela City Hall,Cecilio Santos St., Barangay Malinta, Valenzuela City
http://www.valenzuela.gov.ph/index.php/government/article/150
