ILOILO City – Amid growing public concern over stray animals and allegations of neglect, Iloilo City officials have assured that impounded dogs are being properly cared for while rolling out broader animal welfare initiatives.
Councilor Johnny Young, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s Committee on Animal Welfare, reported that 30 dogs are currently housed at the city animal pound in Mandurriao district. He stressed that contrary to misconceptions, the animals are not left hungry or unattended.
“We feed them once a day because they are already adults, and the food is purchased by the city government. Their cages are cleaned and disinfected daily. They receive vitamin supplementation every day, and they are given baths at least three times a week using dog shampoo,” Young said.
He added that cats and other rescued animals also pass through the pound: “Pero ina sila ya, pagkatapos atipanon kag ma-injection-nan or bulngon, pwede na sila buy-an.”
Rehabilitation and Adoption
Young clarified that the pound serves as a rehabilitation center rather than a dumping ground for abandoned animals.
Dogs taken in by the Office of the City Veterinarian (OCV) undergo deworming, rabies vaccination, and spaying or neutering before being offered for adoption.
“The adoption program of the OCV has been very effective. Once rehabilitated, these dogs are given a chance to be part of loving families,” he said.
Young urged public participation, saying, “We welcome donations from individuals and organizations that want to support animal welfare programs.”
Just this August, he authored a resolution urging all barangays in Iloilo City to form Standing Committees on Animal Welfare to strengthen grassroots efforts in protecting animals.
Vet Alert System Launched
The update on the animal pound came just days after the launch of the Veterinary Emergency and Tracking Alert System (Vet Alert) on September 23 at the City Hall Penthouse.
Vet Alert is a community-based monitoring system designed to detect and contain suspected animal diseases using trained barangay responders and a digital dashboard for real-time reporting.
The program complements other OCV initiatives such as the Iloilo City PETS (Protect, Educate, Track, and Sterilize) campaign and the upcoming RISE and Paw-tect program this October.
Police Animal Welfare Desks
The city government has also institutionalized Animal Welfare Desks in all police stations under Regulation Ordinance 2024-141, as amended by RO 2024-215. Each police precinct must designate an Animal Welfare Officer to receive complaints and enforce laws against cruelty and neglect.
“This landmark initiative shows that Iloilo City is serious about protecting animals. We are building a culture where animal cruelty has no place and where responsible pet ownership is embraced,” Young said./PN
