Baguio’s new dog ownership ordinance keeps pets, owners on tight leash

The City Council has passed on third and final reading the dog magna carta bill or the Responsible Dog Ownership Ordinance, which has one provision that has alarmed dog lovers. 

Under the ordinance, registration of dogs in the city will be a requirement, either by microchipping or dog-tagging, at the choice of the dog owner. 

The ordinance also requires the city to keep a database of the city’s dogs, including registration numbers, dog owner’s name, address, and other pertinent information on both the dogs and the owner.

Registration includes the issuance of a certificate of registration, worth P50 from the Baguio City Veterinary Office (CVAO). Microchipping services will also be made available, worth P400.

But also under the law, the dog should be inside the property of the dog owner or watched over by the owner all the time. And if it escapes, that’s when things get iffy. 

According to the bill, a driver who accidentally runs over a dog in any public street, including subdivision roads shall not be held liable for any damage caused to the dog. The ordinance states that it is the responsibility of the owner to keep their dog away from danger by keeping the dog within their private property.

This particular part of the ordinance got the goat of many dog lovers. 

A volunteer of the Animal Kingdom Foundation in Tarlac, which had helped curb dog meat selling in the city, said that their legal team wanted to look at the ordinance for legal issues. Another said the ordinance is “animal.”

Owners who failure to register dogs or immunize them against rabies will be fined P2,000. The absence of a chip or dog tag within 3 months of the implementation of the ordinance will also be considered a violation and will be fined the same.

The issue of forced dogchipping was also debated on social media last year.

Dogs are only allowed to be without leash or similar devices within their owner’s private property or premises. If they are found outside without their owners, the latter have to pay P500 to reclaim them from the city pound.

Under the ordinance, dogs can be considered as nuisances if they bite people, cause damage to property, defecate outside their owner’s premises, or are simply outside without their owners, under which case the owner will be made to surrender them to the city.

Owners whose dogs bite another person are required to cover their medical costs stemming from the bite incident. Failure to comply will be cost the owner a P25,000-fine, and failure to put the dog under observation will mean a separate P10,000 -fine.

The ordinance also contains provisions for dog breeders and suppliers, as well as the registration and certification of kennels in the city.

It also mandates the CVAO to provide spaying and castration services.

Currently, the ordinance has been forwarded to the mayor’s desk for approval. The implementing rules and regulations will be hashed out over within 30 days upon approval. – Rappler.com