By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr.

Animal advocacy groups, led by the Community Animal Rescue Efforts, Inc.-Bacolod (CARE Bacolod), attended a Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) hearing last week, where they discussed the condition of the Bacolod City pound.
Among the issues raised included the lack of sufficient water, food, and electricity; the need for improvements and maintenance to the facility, along with additional kennels; and the necessity of employing more personnel to attend to the animals over the weekends and during holidays.
City Veterinarian, Dr. Ma. Agueda de la Torre, and City Pound head Julius Galve validated the concerns.
Alongside CARE Bacolod, the groups, including the Bacolod Aspin Rescue Kennel (BARK), Island Rescue Organization-Bacolod (IRO-Bacolod), and the Bacolod Dog Lovers Organization (BDLO), all pledged support for city projects geared towards making the city more animal-friendly.
They also cited RA 8485, or the Animal Welfare Act, which they say, if implemented with a related ordinance through the SP, the Bacolod City pound could be transformed into an “eco-friendly and educational tourism destination.”/WDJ