Save dogs from lethal injection, group asks public

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.