(PH) Animal welfare advocates welcome QC dog pound

[Guest guest]

Animal welfare advocates welcome QC dog pound

By Jeannette Andrade

Inquirer

08/09/2007

 

MANILA, Philippines ?An animal welfare group said

yesterday the establishment of a dog pound in Quezon

City may help put a stop to the booming dog meat trade

in the city.

 

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) is

closely coordinating with the city government in the

construction of the pound in Barangay Payatas to be

completed in October.

 

PAWS program director Anna Cabrera told the Inquirer

the lack of an animal shelter contributed to the

problem of a flourishing dog meat trade in 142

barangays of Quezon City.

 

" We have received reports that Quezon City is the

biggest source of dog meat. Barangays sell captured

strays because the city has no budget or facilities

for the animals' care, " Cabrera said.

 

She said a dog was sold for P100-P250 depending on its

size. Barangay Bahay Toro was identified as the

leading retailer of dog meat.

 

Through the city pound, stray dogs could be cared for

or put up for adoption or humanely disposed of, she

said.

 

But Cabrera said there were also barangays,

particularly Bagong Pag-asa, that believed in the

humane treatment of dogs.

 

Bagong Pag-asa is the pilot area for the registration

and vaccination of dogs in the city.

 

Records of the vaccination, dog's identification,

picture and owner's name are included in a data bank.

 

Cabrera said PAWS and the city government were

involved in a concerted effort to stop the spread of

rabies and look after the welfare of dogs.

 

She said, based on Bureau of Animal Industry records,

Quezon City had the highest incidents of dog bites

last year, 73 of 101 cases in Metro Manila.

 

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view_article.php?article_id\

=81454