BAGUIO City Veterinarian Dr. Brigit Piok confirmed that mandatory dog registration starts in November.
Piok said registration of dogs will be done per barangay and dog owners will need to pay P300 to register pets, in which microchipping will be included in the cost.
Piok said the registration will be done per area where owners will need to bring their pets, fill up information sheets for data entries on the dog and the owner, and proceed with microchipping procedures.
Meanwhile, an online petition to amend a city law requiring the registration is being challenged by netizens who argue about health risks for pets borne by the microchipping requirements.
Netizens said the registration and mandatory microchipping of dogs pose health risk to pets, fearing small breeds and young pups may have adverse reactions to microchipping.
The petition also cited the law as a violation of the owner's right to decide on what is best for their pets.
But Piok said the microchipping of small canine breeds, puppies and dogs three kilos and below will not be done. He also explained the benefits of microchipping as a whole.
"This is important for us to build a database for our dog population as well as an accurate vaccination inventory for all dogs in the city," Piok said, adding that the database the City Veterinary Office (CVO) has
at the moment is not accurate, as it is only based on vaccination records and barangay census of dogs.
The CVO head said the microchips will eliminate the problem of double registration of pets and non-registration.
The online petition also says microchipping does not guarantee finding a lost pet.
"Proponents of the measure claim that microchipped pets can easily be reunited with their owners when they lose them. This may seem like an advantage to pet owners but the fact remains that it does not guarantee lost pets to be reunited with their owners," the petition stated.
Petitioners said the imposition of penalties to non-microchipped pet owners is impossible to monitor, with the ordinance imposing a P2,000 fine for pet owners who fail to have their dogs registered.
"We wonder how authorities would be able to regularly monitor each household in the city who owns a pet, particularly those whose dogs live inside their homes. Dogs can give birth twice a year. Will authorities do searches inside the private abode of every resident in the city? Wouldn't this constitute forced or illegal entry into a private property? Why are responsible pet owners being penalized for simply refusing to microchip their pets?" the petition reads.
Piok clarified there will be no house to house searching for dogs, but when the dogs are apprehended by the CVO or the barangay, the penalties for the owners will apply.
Along with the microchipping opposition, petitioners also oppose the holding period of impounded dogs before being put down as inhumane.
"Impounded dogs deserve to be reunited with their owners or gain a fighting chance to find a loving family willing to adopt them. Three days is simply too short to entitle animals their chance of redemption. We alternatively propose that all impounded dogs that have no claimant within 3 days should be spayed and given a chance for adoption after the 3-day grace period for claimant," added the petition.
Petitioners also asked for alternative in the time of the pandemic.
"We are all aware of the massive economic crisis this pandemic has brought to the nation. We believe that adding another burden upon the people would be untimely. With barely any resources left to survive due to the quarantine, families have allotted their savings only for essential need. Pet owners do not see microchipping as an essential pet need especially when their pets are safely secured inside their homes and property," the petitioners added.