Stray dog, Mika, who was earlier diagnosed with a tumor finds a new home. (SOURCE : REHABILITATE MANDAUE POUND DOGS FACEBOOK PAGE)
UNLESS some sympathetic stranger takes them in, Piper, Amber and Eman know their days are over.
The three mixed-breed dogs are scheduled for euthanasia by lethal injection in Mandaue City today, Nov. 1.
A group of volunteers went online to appeal to Mandaue residents to adopt the three stray dogs, that last of a batch of 50 dogs that used to crowd the city pound in barangay Labogon, Mandaue City.
The dogs were either impounded by the city or surrendered by owners who could no longer take care of them.
Gretel Babatuan, administrator of the Rehabilitate the Mandaue City Pound Dogs Facebook page, hopes they don’t have to die.
“We are appealing to the people of Mandaue to adopt these dogs and save their lives,” she told Cebu Daily News in a phone interview from Thailand.
Starting September 30, the group posted an online campaign for dog adoption.
“We will be killed by euthanasia on November 1,” said the post with accompanying photos of the dogs.
Arrangements
Babatuan said they have helped arrange the adoption of 37 dogs.
Another 10 dogs died from diseases while 11 remain at the city pound.
Those who want to adopt a dog are asked to send a private message to the group’s FB page for arrangements.
They will asked to fill out an adoption form and present a valid identification card.
Unclaimed
Babatuan said, their group is also petitioning Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes to spare the city pound dogs and to transfer them to the newly built city pound in barangay Jagobiao when it starts operation by mid-November.
Section 8 of City Ordinance 99/016 or “An ordinance establishing a public or city pound in the City of Mandaue under the office of the city veterinarian” orders the “humane extermination” of unclaimed animals by lethal injection.
Animals may also be sold in a public auction or donated to a research facility.
Sec. 10 (e) of the ordinance passed on May 28, 1999 says that “stray animals that pose a threat to public safety and public health shall be exterminated.”
A 10-day notice of extermination shall be posted at the Mandaue City Public Market, the City Hall and the Barangay Hall where the animal was caught and barangay halls of nearby areas.
Adoption
The dogs at the city pound have different stories.
Some were brought there already very sick and dying. Others showed signs of abuse.
Max was brought to the city pound with a chain and padlock around his neck. The mixed-bred dog is available for adoption.
“There are still a number of dogs at the city pound also awaiting adoption,” said Babatuan.
Volunteer
Babatuan said that last August she met seven other individuals online who share her passion for dogs – Mylene Alvaro, Cherrie Juntilla, Arnold Nadera, Niña Matugas, Joel Cabahug, Enrique Gil and Australian national Dennis Kreusler.
They agreed to organize volunteers to help out at the city pound after they saw a post about the sorry conditions there posted on the Cebu Dog Society FB page.
She said the city pound located near the city abattoir in barangay Labogon was then without water and power supply. Dogs were crowded in small cells.
“After seeing the pictures, I said let’s do this. That was when I created the (Rehabilitate Mandaue City Pound Dogs FB) page,” she said.
When she visited Cebu last September 2, Babatuan said she brought her group to meet with Mayor Cortes and ask to be allowed to do voluntary work at the city pound to set up a dog adoption program.
Donations
Alvaro, Juntilla and Cabahug do city pound visits to organize feeding, proper grooming, dog walking activities and medical checkups.
Babatuan said she administers their page and campaigns for dog adoption,
She also facilitates the transfer of donations to the city pound.
A Mandaue City resident who is now based in the United States donated P100,000 in cash to help pay for the checkups and medications of dogs held in the city pound.
She said at least six dogs had their blood samples examined for Complete Blood Count (CBC) and treated with antibiotics.
“We are also negotiating with the Mandaue city government that if we manage to reduce the dog population in the city pound, the remaining dogs would no longer be euthanized and would instead be transferred to the new city pound,” she said.