Mayor wants increase in penalty vs. irresponsible pet owners

Mayor Benjamin Magalong will ask the city council to pass an ordinance increasing the penalty for irresponsible pet owners particularly those allowing their pets to discharge their waste in public areas.

The mayor said it is high time to put more teeth to the measure to abate violations.

“People should stop doing this. It is unsanitary and repulsive,” the mayor said.

The mayor reminded that irresponsible dog owners are liable under City Ordinance No. 19 Series of 2021 or the Responsible Dog Ownership Ordinance of Baguio City.

He called out careless dog owners who release their pets to defecate on roads, neighbor’s properties, parks and other public places.

The mayor ordered the City Veterinary and Agriculture Office (CVAO) to intensify the campaign against stray dogs.

Ordinance No. 19-2021 penalizes dog owners who fail to properly perform their duties as dog owners causing discomfort to other people.The dog owners’ responsibilities as enumerated in the ordinance are:

*They should only acquire and maintain dogs if they are capable and have the means to provide care

*Submit the dogs for mandatory registration and regular vaccination and maintaining updated records

*Provide their dogs with proper grooming, adequate food and clean shelter and maintain human-animal relationship and provide good health management program for their dogs.

*Maintain control over their dogs with the use of a leash when in public places and collect and dispose of their pets’ feces at all times.

*Take all measures to prevent their dogs from being stray or nuisance and report immediately any dog-biting incident and take appropriate precaution, and assist dog bite victims and shoulder all expenses incurred relative to the victim’s injuries.

Fines for owners who refuse to put their pets on leash start at P500.The ordinance also mandates the registration of their pets with the CVAO or the barangay along with their mandatory vaccination. – Aileen P. Refuerzo