(PH) Arroyo signs 2007 Anti-Rabies Act/Ban on sale of dog meat now a law

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(PH) Arroyo signs 2007 Anti-Rabies Act

GMANews.TV

05/31/2007

 

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has signed into law the Anti-Rabies Act of

2007 (Republic Act 9482), which seeks to control and eliminate human and animal

rabies.

 

The law was signed last May 25, Malacañang said Thursday.

 

Rabies is a highly fatal disease caused by a lyssa virus that is transmitted

through the bite of an infected animal. It is characterized by muscle paralysis,

hydrophobia and aerophobia and other neurological disorders.

 

The new law requires the creation of a National Rabies Prevention and Control

Program, which will be implemented by a multi-agency committee that would be

chaired by the agriculture department’s Bureau of Animal Industry.

 

The program involves the mass vaccination of dogs, establishment of a central

database system for registered and vaccinated dogs, impounding, field control

and disposition of stray and unvaccinated dogs.

 

It also calls for information and education campaign on the prevention and

control of rabies, pre-exposure treatment of high-risk personnel and

post-exposure treatment of animal bite victims, free routine immunization of

schoolchildren aged five to 14 in areas where there is high incidence of rabies

and encouragement of responsible pet ownership.

 

RA 9482 requires pet owners to regularly vaccinate their dog against rabies and

maintain a vaccination registration card, submit their dog for mandatory

registration, maintain control of their dog and not allow it to roam any public

place without a leash, provide their dog with proper grooming, adequate food and

clean shelter, report within 24 hours any dog biting incident for investigation

or appropriate action, assist the dog bite victim immediately and shoulder the

medical expenses of the victims.

 

The new law also lists the responsibilities of government agencies under the

Rabies Prevention and Control Program.

 

It also requires local government units to ensure that all dogs in their areas

are properly immunized, registered and issued a dog tag, enforce impounding

activities and field control for stray dogs, ensure that dogs are leased or

confined within the owner’s house, allocate funds to augment the

implementation of the program, ensure the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act

of 1998, enact local ordinances that would regulate treatment locally known as

" tandok; " prohibit the trade of dogs for meat, maintain dog pounds, establish a

veterinary office in every province, and require pet shops to post information

regarding rabies and responsible pet ownership.

 

Under RA 9482, unregistered, stray and unvaccinated dogs shall be put in dog

pounds. If they are not claimed for three days, they will be put up for adoption

or disposed of. The owner shall pay P500-P1,000 before he gets his dog back.

 

It also gives dog owners discounts in pet registration fee if the animal is

neutered as part of the dog population control program.

 

RA 9482 imposes the following penalties:

 

* P2,000 for pet owners who fail or refuse to have their dog registered and

immunized against rabies; if the dog bites someone, the owner will pay for the

vaccination of the dog and the person bitten

 

* P10,000 for those who refuse to have their dog placed under observation after

it has bitten a person

 

* P25,000 for pet owners who refuse to have their dog observed and do not

shoulder the medical expenses of the bitten person

 

* P500 for dog owners who refuse to put their dogs on a leash

 

* P5,000 per dog for those found guilty of trading dog for meat; the person

would also be imprisoned for one to four years

 

* P5,000 per act and imprisonment of 1-4 years for those who use electrocution

as a method of euthanasia

 

A budget of P100 million is set for the implementation of the act and would

initially be chargeable against the budgets of the health, agriculture, interior

and education departments. - GMANews.TV

 

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/44580/Arroyo-signs-2007-Anti-Rabies-Act

 

Ban on sale of dog meat now a law

By Joyce Pangco Pañares

Manila Standard

June 1, 2007

 

CONGRESS has passed a law banning the trading in dog meat and promoting the

elimination of rabies through mandatory dog immunization.

 

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed the law, the " Anti-Rabies Act of 2007, "

and allocated P100 million to implement it.

 

" We have become more animal-conscious now, " Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita

said.

 

" Dogs are friends. They guard our homes, and we in return take care of them.

Some of us even sleep beside our pets, " he said.

 

Republic Act 8845, passed in 1998, bans the trading in dog meat, but its

implementation has been selective as most provinces in the north of the country

hide behind " tradition " to justify eating dogs.

 

In Baguio alone, residents consume about 200 dogs a day, according to animal

rights advocate Network for Animals.

 

Network representative Melchor Alipio said the P5,000 fine imposed in RA 8845

was too small compared with the P55 million that dog traders earned annually.

 

Section 11 of the new law imposes a P5,000 fine for every dog killed or traded

for its meat and a jail term of one year to four years.

 

" If the violation is committed by an alien, he or she shall be immediately

deported after service of sentence without any further proceedings, " the law

says.

 

The law also requires dog owners to have their pets vaccinated regularly against

rabies or face a fine of P2,000. Dog owners who let their dogs stray will be

fined P500 for each stray.

 

The law tasks the agriculture department to give free anti-rabies shots in

depressed areas, and the health department to stock cheap anti-rabies vaccines

for humans.

 

Stray dogs will be impounded at government dog pounds.

 

" Impounded dogs not claimed after three days from the dog pound shall be placed

for adoption to qualified persons with the assistance of an animal welfare

non-government organization, " the law says.

 

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=news5_june1_2007