Animal welfare group hits Marikina execs over pet ban

An animal welfare group on Monday accused Marikina City officials of snubbing its request for a public hearing to amend an ordinance that bans residents of resettlement areas from owning pets.

In an interview, Anna Cabrera, executive director of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), said the group and the Office of the Legal Aid of the University of the Philippines sent a letter on March 4 requesting the same to the Office of the Vice Mayor, but they had yet to receive a reply up to now.

A copy of the letter, which was obtained by the Inquirer, was also sent to the Office of the City Mayor.

“We have already called the attention of the local government on the ordinance, but up to now, nothing,” Cabrera said.

Animal welfare activists like PAWS have branded Marikina City Ordinance 13 Series of 1997 (and not Ordinance number 156 of 1996) as “discriminatory against” the poor, but local government officials had insisted that it helped save animals from possible cruelty, and residents from diseases.

Dr. Manuel Carlos, the city veterinarian, said that for as long as the law was in place, he would continue to implement it.

Cabrera said the group would be “constrained to take other measures without going through (Marikina officials)” if they “continue to ignore” their request.

She did not, however, specify what these measures were or give a final date within which the group should have received a reply.

She added PAWS would directly inform the electorate about whom to vote and not to vote for based on their stand on animal issues if the letter remains unanswered.

“We will (do this) if they don’t want to meet (with us). We will take the necessary steps,” she said.