ZAMBOANGA CITY - There is a saying that "all dogs go to heaven." This, perhaps, is the best ending for 4,612 stray dogs which have been subjected to mercy killing or euthanasia by the City Veterinary Office (CVO) over the past 18 months as part of its anti-rabbies campaign, it was learned recently. Dr. Arnedo Agbayani, chief of the city Animal Help Division, said the CVO was able to round up and put 3,101 stray dogs to sleep during the 12 months of 2009 and 1,511 other canines from January to June this year.
Zamboanga City veterinarian Dr. Mario Arreola explained that the so-called mercy killing of stray dogs is in accordance with a city ordinance for the welfare of animals and residents. Arreola explained that the local government schedules its regular rounding up of stray dogs every Wednesday through the initiative of the newly created City Pound Office (CPO) headed by Dr. Luz Vanessa Jimenea. Jimenea said owners of impounded dogs are given at least one week to claim their canine from the CPO in Barangay San Roque before subjecting the captured dogs to mercy killing. (Tony Pe Rimando)
