BORACAY – Municipal Ordinance No. 432, series of 2020 outlawing stray dogs here will be strictly enforced, according to Malay, Aklan acting mayor Frolibar Bautista.
Dogs left unattended and roaming freely on the beach and other public places here are considered stray. Under the ordinance, they must be impounded or disposed of by authorized agents or the barangay.
Bautista said the Municipal Agriculture Office and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office are tasked to enforce the ordinance.
Owners of stray dogs are fined P2,500 for the first offense and P2,500 for subsequent offenses. The dogs are also impounded.
Also, dog owners who fail or refuse to have their dogs registered and immunized against rabies, and who let their dogs defecate in public places, are also penalized by a fine of P2,500.
“Marami ang nakakagat ng aso dahil sa kapababayaan ng mga iresponsableng may-ari,” said Bautista.
Owners who refuse to have their dogs – that have bitten someone – put under observation and do not shoulder the medical expenses of the person bitten is meted with a fine of P2,500 or six months imprisonment or both at the discretion of the court.
Bautista also encouraged residents and tourists to report stray and dangerous dogs to beach guards and auxiliary police.
In 2013, Boracay Island was declared rabies-free by Department of Health./PN
