In line with the observance of World Animal Month this October, Bantay Hayop Davao made an appeal to Davao City officials to intensify efforts in protecting animals against cruelty, neglect, and abandonment.
Speaking during the session at the City Council on Tuesday, Alexi Rodian Bullina, co-founder and head of Bantay Hayop Davao’s Rescue and Medical Team, underscored the worsening condition of community animals in Davao City.
According to her, for five years, Bantay Hayop Davao has been rescuing dogs and cats that suffered abuse, disease, and abandonment.
She also lamented that animal cruelty remains prevalent despite existing laws.
“Naay ihaw ug kaon og iro. Naay pagpanakit sama sa pagtigbas, pagdunggab, pagpana, panglambus og itoy, panghilo sa mga iring ug iro sa mga komunidad, pagtuyo og ligis, ug uban pa,” she said.
Bullina emphasized that these incidents clearly violate the Animal Welfare Act and the Anti-Rabies Act.
She added that their group, with partner law firm Tolentino and Associates, has already filed cases against the violators.
She stressed that Republic Act 9482 mandates the provision of anti-rabies vaccines for community pets.
Bullina explained that the City Veterinarian’s Office has been a partner of Bantay Hayop Davao for years in combating rabies cases and the possible spread of rabies infection among cats and dogs.
“However, many owners still do not give it importance. Manawag na sa amoa kay nahadlok na kay posibleng rabied na ilang iro, og kami pa ang kasab-an kay dili namo makuha. Pet owners who violated RA 9482 are supposed to be cited and penalized, but here they feel entitled to be protected from their own negligence,” she said.
Bullina cited data shared by the group revealed that in 2024 alone, about 5,700 animals were euthanized in the Davao Impounding Services, following an annual average of 4,000 killings in previous years.
She added that over two decades, nearly half a million animals have been impounded and euthanized, yet the rabies problem persists.
Bullina also questioned whether mass euthanasia has solved the city’s stray and rabies issues, pointing out that irresponsible owners continue to evade accountability.
“Supposedly, ang mga irresponsableng mga tag-iya ang ginasilutan, ang nahitabo, ang mga iro ang ginapatay. Kung ikaw responsable, maningkamot ka na imong maatiman imong iro, mugasto ka sa vet, kung madakpan sa pound imong bayaran, lukaton sa pound ug ibalik sa balay. Kung natakdan sa sakit, mugasto na pud og tambal. Ang iresponsableng tag-iya, itunol sa impounding vehicle ang mga iro, iring, itoy, tigulang ug mga kagiron nilang mga hayop na dili na nila gusto atimanon. Ang paghatod sa pound, libre. Ang pagpatay sa pound, libre. Ang pagpacremate, libre. Mokuha lang sila og bag-ong mga itoy unya og di na pud sila ganahan ilaha na sad itunol sa dog pound,” she stressed.
Bullina added that barangays continue to request dog pounds but avoid identifying irresponsible pet owners.
She said that a mandate for pet-owner ID registration was never enforced, and while Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular 2024-126 tasked barangays to aid abandoned animals, many instead ignored cruelty cases and sent the animals to pounds for euthanasia.
Bullina pointed out that countless dogs and cats are euthanized in pounds called “mercy killing”.
“But its killing mercilessly victims of violations of RA 8485 and RA 9482. Ang biktima, sila ang sentensyado, sila ang patyon. Ang mga sad-ang tag-iya, abswelto. Among sugyot, change the cruel mandate since wala man nausab ang sitwasyon ug nagpadayon man ang problema. Dili ang mga hayop ang angay na musalo sa sala sa ilahang mga tag-iya,” she said.
Bullina cited Cebu City’s model, where impounded animals are neutered, vaccinated, and either returned or adopted—an approach that both safeguards public health and sustains animal welfare programs through generated revenues.
The group also urged the council to establish an Animal Welfare Committee that would review existing laws, push for humane policies, and ensure better veterinary services across communities.
