BACOLOD City — The City Veterinary Office (CVO) has ordered a temporary halt to the impounding of cats and dogs at the City Dog Pound in Barangay 35 as the facility grapples with severe overcrowding.
Newly hired Assistant City Veterinarian Dr. Janine Sarthou announced that the pound will accept only one final dog before suspending all further impounding operations.
“Stop anay ang impounding para indi na gid magdamo, but I was told there is still one more nga kuhaon para impound — hopefully that will be the last,” she said.
Dr. Sarthou said the facility is currently overwhelmed, housing 178 impounded dogs — far beyond its maximum capacity of 100.
The overcrowding worsened after former Assistant City Veterinarian Dr. John Michael Cabuguason resigned in October, leaving City Veterinarian Dr. Maria Agueda Trinidad Dela Torre to handle operations amid mounting complaints from animal welfare groups regarding deteriorating conditions at the pound.
Upon assuming her post, Dr. Sarthou conducted an immediate assessment and was alarmed by the dogs’ condition. She initiated urgent treatment protocols and ordered mass deworming to stabilize the animals’ health.
“The situation was a mess, so treatment and overall deworming were done right away to help them recover,” she said.
The temporary suspension aims to prevent further overcrowding while emergency measures are implemented to improve the welfare of animals already inside the facility.
On December 2, Mayor Greg Gasataya met with animal welfare groups to address urgent concerns regarding the rescued pets housed at the city pound — a move advocates hope will mark a turning point in Bacolod’s approach to animal care.
During the dialogue, Gasataya presented the proposed P10-million City Veterinary Office and Animal Shelter Complex to be constructed in Barangay 35, along with the appointment of Dr. Sarthou.
The mayor stressed that while long-term solutions are in progress, immediate action is essential. “Part of the short-term measures is to assess the city pound and come up with immediate improvements,” he said.
Organizations present at the meeting included Pawssion Project, CARE, Furhaven Rescue Sanctuary, BACH, and BARK — groups whose participation signaled stronger collaboration toward elevating the city’s approach from basic containment to what advocates describe as “animal and human welfare.”
The CVO is expected to roll out additional reforms in coordination with animal welfare groups in the coming days./PN