QC set to open new city pound

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City will soon have a new city pound.

QC Mayor Joy Belmonte announced on Tuesday that a new city pound is set to be opened in the first quarter of 2021.

The 450 square meters, two-storey pound’s construction is being fast-tracked, the QC government said.

The building will be located in the Empire View Subdivision in Barangay Payatas.

The establishment of the pound is aimed at providing better temporary shelter and services for stray animals.

The QC government said the pound will house a surgery room for neutering and other medical needs and will also have individual cages with separate cages for sick animals.

The individual cases will serve as temporary shelters in barangays where stray animals are kept in a single room raising risk of infection.

“Gusto nating magkaroon ng mas maayos na temporary shelter ang stray animals na mahuhuli sa ating mga lansangan. Sa bagong city pound, may partition ang cages para nakahi-hiwalay ang mga hayop,” Mayor Belmonte said.

(The city wants a proper temporary shelter for captured stray animals. In the new city pound, the animals will be separate from each other by the partitioned cages.)

The city pound will also house the QC Veterinary Department – City Pound Division Office and a cashier to facilitate faster payment of fees for adoption or claiming of impounded animals.

Mayor Belmonte also expressed willingness to partner with animal welfare groups to manage and improve the handling of impounded animals. The mayor is currently in talks with the group PAWSSION Project headed by Malou Perez.

“It is very important that we handle our captured stray animals well. That’s why the city is open to partnerships with animal welfare groups to ensure that the city is providing what the animal welfare act prescribes,” Mayor Belmonte explained.

“We would gladly accept any assistance from our NGOs especially in training our personnel on proper handling of impounded animals para hindi natin sila mapabayaan hanggang sa i-claim na sila ng kanilang owner,” she added.

(We would gladly accept any assistance from our NGOs especially in training our personnel on proper handling of impounded animals so that they will be cared for until claimed by owners.)

According to City Veterinary Department – City Pound Division chief Dr. Esmeralda Encarnado, the city captures up to 200 animals weekly.

Caught animals are impounded for three days waiting to be claimed by their owners. In succeeding days the animals are up for adoption or euthanized in accordance with internationally-accepted standards and local regulations if left unclaimed.

“Hindi natin pinapabayaan na magpakalat-kalat ang mga hayop sa ating mga lansangan kaya kailangan natin silang pansamantalang i-house sa ating city pound.”, Encarnado said.

(We do not let stray animals roam our streets so we must capture and temporarily house them in the city pound.)

“Kapag patuloy silang nagpagala-gala, maaaring magkalat sila ng sakit tulad ng rabies na ayaw naman nating mangyari,” Encarnado stated.

(If left to roam they may spread diseases such as rabies which we do not want to happen.)

The city strictly performs its impounding services pursuant to Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act, Republic Act 9482 or the Anti-Rabies Act, and SP-2505 series of 2016 or the Quezon City Veterinary Code. Miggy Dumlao, trainee

JE