The city government here is planning to establish an animal care and adoption center to improve its related services in compliance with the animal welfare law.

Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan, author of the proposed ordinance on the center, said in a phone interview on Monday that the city pound is already congested.

“It is already overburdened, the construction of an animal care and adoption center will better achieve the legislative intents of the animal welfare law,” he said.

Olowan said Republic Act 8485 as amended by RA 10631, otherwise known as the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, recognizes the freedom of animals from hunger and thirst, pain, injury, disease, and stress.

The city’s pound is being used as a temporary shelter for animals caught roaming in the streets.

The animals stay at the city pound until retrieved by the owners or get adopted by those who meet the requirements.

Olowan’s ordinance, if approved, will allow the city to construct a two-story building with individual cages and a surgery room which will provide “friendly and better temporary shelter services” for stray animals.

The facility will also house the Animal Health Division of the City Veterinary and Agriculture Office (CVAO) and will facilitate payment of fees for adoption or claim of impounded animals.

Olowan said funds for the construction of the center will be sourced from the PHP200-million share of the city from the Philippine Export Zone Authority (PEZA) or from other available funds that can be realigned for the purpose.

Regularly, the city veterinary office publishes an announcement for the adoption of dogs.

Aside from paying the adoption fee, the city also requires the adopter to submit a permit from the barangay allowing the person to adopt an animal for a pet. (PNA)