Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 9482)
The title of Republic Act No. 9482 is the "Anti-Rabies Act of 2007."
It is the declared policy of the State to protect and promote the right to health of the people by providing a system for the control, prevention of the spread, and eventual eradication of human and animal Rabies and establishing the need for responsible pet ownership.
For the purpose of the Act, a "Dog" refers to a common quadruped domestic animal belonging to the order carnivora, scientifically known as Canis familiaris, whether male or female.
Pet owners must regularly vaccinate their dogs against Rabies, maintain a vaccination and registration card, keep their dogs leashed or confined, report any dog biting incident within 24 hours to concerned officials, assist dog bite victims and shoulder medical expenses, and submit their dogs for mandatory registration.
The Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Health (DOH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education (DepEd), and Local Government Units (LGUs), with assistance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), NGOs, and People's Organizations (POs).
Key components include mass vaccination of dogs, establishment of a central database for registered and vaccinated dogs, impounding and control of unregistered, stray, and unvaccinated dogs, information and education campaigns, pre-exposure and post-exposure treatments, and encouragement of responsible pet ownership.
Pet owners who fail to register and immunize their dog against Rabies shall be fined Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00). Those who refuse to vaccinate their dogs shall be liable to pay for the vaccination of the dog and for individuals bitten. Refusal to observe a dog that has bitten an individual may lead to a fine of Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) or Twenty-five thousand pesos (P25,000.00) if they also fail to shoulder the victim's medical expenses. Leashing violations carry a fine of Five hundred pesos (P500.00) per incident.
Stray, unregistered, or unvaccinated dogs shall be impounded and kept in designated dog pounds. If not claimed after three days, they may be adopted or disposed of following the Animal Welfare Act of 1998. Owners must pay fees for impounded dogs.
LGUs must ensure dogs are properly vaccinated and registered with dog tags, enforce dog impounding and control to eliminate stray dogs, ensure dogs are leashed or confined, allocate funds for the program, enforce existing animal welfare laws, establish dog pounds, appoint veterinarians, prohibit dog meat trade, and prohibit electrocution as euthanasia.
LGUs shall provide incentives such as subsidized or discounted registration fees for owners of spayed or neutered dogs. Dogs impounded three times must be spayed or neutered before release at the owner's expense.
Any person found guilty of trading dogs for meat shall be fined not less than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) per dog and subjected to imprisonment from one to four years.
The use of electrocution as a method of euthanasia is prohibited. Violators shall be fined not less than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) per act and may face imprisonment from one to four years.
The Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture chairs the multi-agency/multi-sectoral committee tasked to implement the National Rabies Prevention and Control Program.
The Department of Education strengthens the rabies education program through school health curricula, assists in mass dog immunization campaigns, promotes responsible pet ownership education in schools, and collaborates with other agencies and sectors in the program.
Any dog-bite incident must be reported to concerned officials within twenty-four (24) hours for investigation or appropriate action.