ILOILO City — To improve the management of stray and rescued animals, the Sangguniang Panlungsod unanimously approved a resolution urging all 180 barangays in the city to establish temporary, humane shelters or holding areas for abandoned, stray, rescued, injured and impounded animals within their respective jurisdictions.
The measure seeks to decentralize animal rescue efforts by encouraging every barangay to maintain a safe temporary facility where animals can be cared for before being reunited with their owners, adopted, or transferred to appropriate facilities.
“It doesn’t have to be an expensive structure. What is important is that every barangay has a humane holding area where rescued or impounded animals can be properly cared for temporarily instead of being left on the streets,” said resolution author Councilor Johnny Young, chairperson of the Committee on Animal Welfare.
Barangays are encouraged to establish enclosed, secure and well-ventilated holding areas equipped with adequate protection from heat, rain and flooding.
The shelters should also provide clean drinking water, designated feeding areas, proper drainage systems and regular sanitation to safeguard the health and welfare of animals under their care.
To minimize disease transmission and ensure public safety, the proposed facilities should maintain separate enclosures for sick, injured, aggressive or newly rescued animals.
The resolution also recommends that barangays maintain a logbook or registry of rescued, surrendered and impounded animals to facilitate owner identification and improve the chances of reuniting lost pets with their families.
” We also want to increase the chances of reuniting lost pets with their owners,” said Young.
The resolution further encourages barangays to coordinate closely with the Iloilo City Veterinary Office for vaccination, medical treatment, rescue operations, adoption programs, animal transfers and other necessary interventions.
The proposed barangay-based holding areas will complement the city’s broader animal welfare program by allowing immediate response to cases involving stray or injured animals instead of waiting for the City Veterinary Office to take custody./PN
