The Bacolod City government will establish a P10-million dog shelter in Hacienda Conchita, Barangay Granada, that can accommodate up to 1,000 dogs to be funded by a portion of its loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines.

Dr. John Michael Cabuguason, assistant city veterinarian, said in an interview yesterday that Bacolod, being a “super city,” should have to address the basic problem of stray dogs.

“We are finalizing the proposal. I believe it’s a commitment of the mayor [Alfredo Abelardo Benitez] that he really wants to pursue,” he said.

Cabuguason said a big part of the solution is the infrastructure that can accommodate stray dogs rescued from the streets.

“I hope it will be finished by the middle of next year. It’s a race against time,” he added.

Currently, the City Veterinary Office (CVO) maintains a dog pound for up to 150 dogs at its compound in Barangay 35.

Earlier, Benitez said he sees the need for a bigger dog shelter to house all the stray dogs rounded up by the CVO.

“The size of our dog pound is limited that if we impound all the stray dogs, they cannot all be accommodated. We came up with the plan to absorb all stray dogs,” he added. (PNA)