Marikina mayor: Unhealthy to have pets in tiny homes

Marikina City officials on Tuesday stood firm on an ordinance that bars residents in resettlement areas from owning pets, saying the 1997 law being questioned lately by animal welfare advocates had already gone through public hearings and consultations with the affected residents themselves.

In a statement, Mayor Del de Guzman recalled that a covenant had been signed between the city government and community leaders on the passage of Ordinance No. 13.

“We believe that prohibiting people in resettlement areas from raising animals is something that would benefit residents and communities in many ways,” De Guzman said.

“There are laws that also prohibit raising animals in condominium units and other residences with small spaces. This shows that the ordinance is not antipoor as people who are well-off are also under the same law for the benefit of everyone,” he said.

De Guzman added that the law was meant to protect residents from possible diseases caused by living with animals in cramped resettlement areas where, he said, houses usually have only an area of 24 square meters.

“With small available spaces, it is not suitable to raise dogs, cats, chickens and other pets because residents might catch different types of diseases caused by the animals,” he said.

The residents are also at risk of being bitten by the animal or exposed to their excrement, the mayor added.

Dr. Manuel Carlos, the city veterinarian, said that instead of keeping animals which would only be confiscated, residents should just to entrust their pets to relatives or friends living in more spacious environs.

The city government, he said, will continue catching pets wandering on the streets in line with its zero-stray animal policy.