By CESAR JOLITO III
Bacolod City moves quickly to overhaul its animal welfare systems as Mayor Greg Gasataya announced a P10-million City Veterinary Office and Animal Shelter Complex as well as the appointment of a new assistant city veterinarian — key steps seen as a turning point in addressing the dire conditions at the city pound.
Gasataya introduced Dr. Janine Sarthou as the newly appointed assistant city veterinarian, selected after a two-month vetting process to ensure compassionate leadership at the pound.
“I have a heart for animals,” Sarthou said, committing to hands-on oversight as she begins a week-long assessment of the facility.
Animal groups welcomed her appointment, emphasizing that effective change requires leaders who understand both veterinary work and animal welfare ethics.
The announcement came during a dialogue on Tuesday, December 2, with leading animal welfare groups, including Pawssion Project, CARE, Furhaven Rescue Sanctuary, BACH, and BARK.
The meeting was convened amid reports of overcrowding, illness and imminent deaths among impounded dogs.
‘Dogs will die in three weeks’
During the meeting, Furhaven Rescue Sanctuary representative Sam Daniel underscored the severity of the situation, warning that many animals may not survive beyond three weeks without immediate intervention.
This prompted the city and the welfare groups to agree on short-term emergency measures, including:
* Separation of sick and healthy animals
* Pound-wide sanitization
* Restoration of power after the city assumed the P800,000 unpaid electricity bills
* Secured food supply through the commitment of City Administrator Atty. Mark Mayo
* Temporary relocation of animals to ease congestion
* Removal of unsafe informal structures around the pound
“These are not just operational adjustments — they are survival measures,” one group said.
Meanwhile, Gasataya unveiled engineering plans for the upcoming Barangay 35 Animal Shelter Complex, designed to include a veterinary clinic, a centralized adoption processing center, and larger open spaces for dog enrichment.
Animal groups urged the City Engineering Office, led by Engineer Loben Ceballos, to prioritize durability over design.
“The facility is for the dogs, not for the humans,” the groups stressed.
“What matters most are strong roofs, safe flooring, and areas where the animals can move freely,” they added.
The shelter is expected to be completed within eight to 10 months.
Stricter pet policies proposed
Dr. Sarthou also proposed a Dog Registration Bill, which would require households to register their pets or face a P500 penalty.
Welfare groups supported the move but emphasized the need to pair it with education on responsible pet ownership.
Gasataya also ordered the vetting of all job order staff assigned to the pound, saying workers must genuinely care for animals — not simply seek employment./CJ, WDJ