Wednesday, October 31, 2007 Kabankalan enacts anti-rabies ordinance
THE Kabankalan City Council enacted an ordinance that would address the rabies problem in the city.
The Rabies and Stray Animal Ordinance provides stray animal management wherein every dog, three months of age and older should undergo rabies vaccination once a year or as frequently as prescribed by or indicated on the label/literature of the vaccine.
A certificate of rabies vaccination shall be provided to the dog owner for each animal vaccinated.
The certificate shall have the following information: owners name, address and telephone number (if any). Description of dog (color, sex, markings, age, name, species and breed if any. Rabies vaccination and vaccine expiration, vaccine producer and vaccinator signature.
The ordinance also authorizes the Animal Control Officer (ACO) to seize and impound every dog or cat found at large, every dog or cat not wearing a collar and tag while off the premises of the owner and not accompanied by a person responsible.
The ACO shall make all reasonable efforts to identify and contact the owner of every stray animal received, whether the animal is living or dead. Every dog or cat impounded shall be provided with clean food, water and sanitary shelter until claimed by its owner. If the animal is not claimed within that time, it shall become the property of the city.
Where a dog or cat seized and impounded is injured or ill and is treated by a veterinarian, the city shall, in addition to an impoundment fees, be entitled to charge the person claiming the animal for the cost of the treatment.
During the impoundment period, the owner can claim the dog or cat upon proof of ownership of the animal and payment to the city of the appropriate fine, license fee when the dog is not licensed, maintenance and veterinary fees.
When owner of dog or cat does not claim the animal, he is required to pay pound fee and maintenance fees for each day the animal is in custody. Any impounded dog or cat not claimed by the owner within the time provided may be adopted for such price as has been established or be euthanized by lethal injection of a barbiturate.
