To provide better temporary shelter for stray animals, the Quezon City government is opening a new city pound.
Mayor Joy Belmonte said the city government is now fast tracking the establishment of a 450-square meter city pound inside Empire View Subdivision in Barangay Payatas in District 2.
The project is expected to be finished in the first quarter of 2021.
“We want a better temporary shelter for stray animals that we could catch on the streets. In that new city pound, there will be partitions to separate each animal,” Belmonte said.
The new facility has its own surgery room for neutering dogs and cats, and for other animals needing immediate medical attention, she said, adding there are also separate cages for sick animals to prevent the spread of infection.
Compared to the temporary shelter for animals situated in the same barangay where a number of stray animals are placed in a single room, the new city pound will have individual cages.
The new two-story city pound would also house the QC Veterinary Department’s City Pound Division Office and a cashier to facilitate faster payment of fee for adoption or claiming impounded animals.
Belmonte expressed willingness to partner with animal welfare groups to manage and improve the handling of impounded animals.
She is currently in talks with the group PAWSSION project headed by Malou Perez.
“It is especially 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,” she said.
“We would gladly accept any assistance from our nongovernment organizations, 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.
City Pound Division chief Dr. Esmeralda Encarnado said the city captures up to 200 animals a week.
The animals are impounded for three days until claimed by their owners.
For the succeeding days, they will be up for adoption, or if still left unclaimed – euthanized in accordance with internationally accepted standards and local regulations.
Belmonte said the city government 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.
