Parks in Baguio will soon be Dog-friendly

During the UGNAYAN last week, City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) Assistant Department Head Atty. Rhenan Diwas has revealed that parks in the City of Baguio will soon be dog-friendly wherein dog-friendly features will be incorporated in the future designs of the parks in the city.

Dog Poop Receptacle

In the UGNAYAN, CEPMO Assistant Department Head Diwas stated that to make the parks dog-friendly they already have incorporated in their designs receptacle for dog poops as most of the parks in the city are designed as for amusement, recreation, and eco-parks.

Furthermore, he added that Bayan Park will be soon a dog-friendly park wherein there are dog receptacles where the dog’s waste can be placed.

“We want to have this receptacle. When we improve Bayan Park, it will really be a dog-friendly park, you can bring your dogs and they have receptacles where you can place the dog poops.”

Advice for Dog Owners

According to Atty. Diwas, he said that as there is no direct provision disallowing dogs in the parks, dog owners must make sure to properly manage their dog’s waste when they enter the park.

“You should responsible as dog owners,” Atty. Diwas added.

Anti-Rabies Act of 2007

As stated under Republic Act No. 9482 or the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 it is mandating the local government a system of control, prevention, or spread and eventual eradication of human and animal rabies through responsible pet ownership.

In addition, RA No. 9482 stated that these are the responsibility of the pet owners:

• Have their Dog regularly vaccinated against Rabies and maintain a registration
  card which shall contain all vaccinations conducted on their Dog, for accurate record
  purposes.
• Submit their Dogs for mandatory registration.
• Maintain control over their Dog and not allow it to roam the streets or any Public
  Place without a leash.
• Be a responsible Owner by providing their Dog with proper grooming, adequate
  food and clean shelter.
• Within twenty-four (24) hours, report immediately any Dog biting incident to the
  Concerned Officials for investigation or for any appropriate action and place such
  Dog under observation by a government or private veterinarian.
• Assist the Dog bite victim immediately and shoulder the medical expenses incurred
  and other incidental expenses relative to the victim’s injuries

City Ordinance 60 series of 2020

Under City Ordinance No. 60, series of 2020, it is stated that dogs are considered a nuisance and to be impounded if the dog has:

• Bitten a person outside the house
• Cause threat or fear to a passerby, or on not less than three occasions
• Disturb peace and quiet of the neighborhood or defecated outside the owner’s premises.

Furthermore, under the ordinance, responsible owners should clean up after the pet.

In addition, is stated that unless dogs are leashed and held by owners, the dogs may be seized and impounded when in:

• Public places
• Highways
• Schools
• Parks
• Public playgrounds
• Churches
• A public place or in premises other than its owner’s fenced area

Source: UGNAYAN, PIO-City of Baguio, Republic Act No. 9482