Constitutional and policy basis
- The ordinance implements Section 15, Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which requires the State to protect and promote the right to health of the people.
- It establishes the need for a system for control, prevention of the spread, and eventual eradication of human and animal rabies.
- It mandates responsible pet ownership to reduce rabies transmission risk, particularly from dogs.
- It supports the National Rabies Prevention and Control Program and local regulation of “tandok” to ensure administrative feasibility.
Authority, implementing agencies, and complaints
- City Veterinary Services Office, City Health Office, and Task Force Disiplina implement the ordinance as the implementing agencies.
- Complaints and charges for violations must be filed by concerned officials and proper authorities in the proper courts.
- Task Force Disiplina renders assistance for mandatory registration and mass vaccination, and issues citation tickets / Ordinance Violation Receipt/Ticket in case of violation.
Definitions established in the ordinance
- A “Bitten” act is when a dog seizes, cuts, or grips with its teeth so that the skin of a person is wounded, pierced, or scratched.
- “Concerned Officials” include barangay officials, health workers, police officers, or government veterinarians.
- “Direct Supervision” means range supervision where the veterinarian’s physical presence within the barangay is necessary.
- “Dog” refers to the domestic animal belonging to the order carnivora, scientifically known as canis familiaris.
- “Euthanasia” means a painless death to dogs and other animals.
- “Impound” means seize and hold the animal in lawful custody.
- “Owner” means any person keeping, harboring, or having charge, care, or control of a dog, including the owner’s representative.
- “Pound” means a public enclosure for stray animals.
- “Public Place” includes places open to the public such as parks, malls, markets, streets, and similar areas.
- “Rabies” is a highly fatal disease caused by a lyssa virus, mainly transmitted by the bite of an infected animal, characterized by muscle paralysis, hydrophobia, aerophobia, and other neurological manifestations.
- “Rabies transmission” is the passage of the rabies virus through a bite or through contamination with virus-laden saliva on breaks in the skin and mucous membranes (including eyes, lips, mouth, or genital organs).
- “Rabies Vaccination/Immunoprophylaxis of Humans” is inoculation of humans with modern rabies vaccines or rabies immunoglobulin by a trained doctor or nurse under supervision of a qualified medical practitioner.
- “Rabies Vaccination of Dogs” is inoculation of a dog with rabies vaccine by a licensed government or private veterinarian or a trained individual under direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian; the trained individual’s services are limited to rabies vaccine injection in dogs only during government mass vaccination campaigns.
- “Post-exposure Treatment (P.E.T)” includes local wound care and rabies vaccine, with or without an anti-rabies immunizing agent, administered after exposure.
- “Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (P.E.P.)” is rabies vaccination administered before exposure to those at high risk.
- “Stray Dog” is any dog leaving the owner’s place or premise and no longer under the owner’s effective control.
- “Tandok” is a person or practice applying traditional remedies related to dog bites.
- “Mandatory Registration” is the requirement that all dog owners submit their dogs for registration in the LGU.
- “Mass vaccination” means administering antigenic material (vaccine) to stimulate adaptive immunity in a large population.
- “Central database” is the compilation of information regarding all registered and vaccinated dogs handled by a single entity.
- “Pet Owner” has the same meaning as “owner” for dogs: any person keeping, harboring, or having charge, care, or control of a dog, including the owner’s representative.
- “Responsible pet ownership” means proper care including veterinary care, vaccinations, de-worming, feeding, shelter, and provision of activities for health and development.
- “Care fee” is the charge for animal custody while impounded, construed as the regular daily rate for food, shelter, and maintenance of impounded dogs/animals.
- “Breed” means a group of domestic animals with homogeneous appearance, behavior, and distinguishing characteristics.
- “Large animal” includes carabao, cattle, horses, sheep, goats, and pigs.
- “Small animal” includes dogs, cats, rodents, monkey, and other small animals.
- “Stray animals” are animals leaving the owner’s place or premise and no longer under effective control.
- “Registration” is the act/process of entering information about something in a book or public records system.
- “Defecation” is the final act where organisms eliminate solid or liquid waste material from the digestive tract through the anus.
- “Urination” is expelling waste from the urinary bladder through the urethra to outside the body.
Scope: activities, coverage, and responsible units
- The ordinance governs rabies control and elimination in the City of Valenzuela through city activities and programs.
- The City Veterinary Services Office must undertake mass vaccination of dogs, establish a central database for registered and vaccinated dogs, conduct impounding, field control, and disposition of unregistered stray and unvaccinated dogs, encourage responsible pet ownership, and run information and education campaigns including animal waste/excrement disposal and management.
- The City Health Office must conduct information and education campaigns on rabies and prevention/control, including regulation of “tandok”, provide pre-exposure treatment to high-risk personnel and post-exposure treatment to animal bite victims, and encourage responsible pet ownership.
- Task Force Disiplina must deploy trained personnel during mandatory registration and mass vaccination, assist upon request during impounding and capture of suspected rabid dogs when the owner refuses to cooperate, participate in city-wide campaigns on registration and mass vaccination, and issue citation tickets/receipts for violations.
Core duties: veterinarians, pet owners, registration
- Veterinarians must issue a certificate of rabies vaccination for each vaccinated dog or cat.
- Each rabies vaccination certificate must include the owner’s name, address, and telephone number; the animal’s species, breed, sex, markings, age, and name; date of vaccination and date of vaccination expiration; rabies vaccination tag number; vaccine producer and product name; manufacturer’s serial or lot number; and the veterinarian’s name, signature, and license number.
- The original vaccination certificates must be given to the owner, while veterinarians must retain a duplicate copy and make it available to the City Veterinary Services Office as needed.
- Pet owners must ensure their dogs and cats are regularly vaccinated against rabies and must maintain a registration card containing all vaccinations for accurate records.
- Pet owners must submit their dogs for mandatory registration.
- Pet owners must maintain control over their dog/cat and must not allow it to roam in streets or any public place without a leash.
- Pet owners must provide proper grooming, adequate food, and clean and well-maintained shelter.
- Pet owners must clean and properly dispose of dog/animal waste and excrements.
- Within 24 hours, pet owners must report any dog/cat biting incident to concerned officials for investigation and must place the biting animal under observation by a government or private veterinarian.
- Pet owners must assist the bite victim immediately and shoulder the victim’s medical expenses and other incidental expenses for injuries.
- All pet owners in Valenzuela must submit their pets for mandatory annual registration and vaccination when pets reach the age of 3 months, during mass anti-rabies vaccination in the barangay.
- The certificate of registration must include the owner’s name, address, and telephone number; animal species, breed, sex, markings, age, name, photo of owner and pet; date of vaccination and date of vaccination expiration; the vaccine used; the manufacturer, serial or lot number; and the veterinarian.
- The original certificates must be issued to the owner, and the City Veterinary Services Office must retain a duplicate copy for the data base.
- A registration fee of P50.00 is required for every dog registered.
- Vaccination is free upon registration.
Rabies field control and bite management rules
- Owners are prohibited from allowing dogs, cats, pigs, cattle, carabaos, and similar animals to roam or stray in any public place within Valenzuela’s jurisdiction without a leash.
- Stray animal collection must be undertaken by the Animal Control Unit of the City Veterinary Services Office.
- Impounded stray animals must be kept in the Valenzuela City Pound.
- Owners may redeem impounded animals within 3 days at the Valenzuela City Pound by presenting the registration/rabies vaccination certificate and paying required fees.
- The ordinance sets the following impounding-related fees:
- Impounding Fee (Small animal): P500.00/animal
- Impounding Fee (Large animal): P1,000.00/animal
- Care fee: P200.00/head/day
- If the impounded animal is unregistered and unvaccinated, the owner must have it registered and vaccinated before release, by paying the registration fee of P50.00.
- If the redeemed animal caused damage to persons or property, the animal owner must pay the cost of such damages.
- Impounded pets/animals not claimed after 3 days must be placed for adoption to qualified persons with assistance of an animal welfare NGO when feasible; otherwise, they must be disposed of in any manner authorized, subject to Republic Act No. 8485 (the Animal Welfare Act of 1998).
- Animals found infected with rabies or other diseases inimical to public health are not redeemable and must be disposed of by immediate euthanasia with the minimum physical and mental suffering.
- Victims of animal bites must report the incident to the City Health Office within 24 hours.
- Victims bitten by animals must immediately consult a physician or go to the nearest Animal Bite Center of the City Health Office for proper treatment.
- Animal bite cases must be reported to the City Veterinary Services Office within 24 hours.
- All cases of rabid or suspected rabid animals must be reported immediately to the City Veterinary Services Office.
- When a pet bites an individual or other animals, the pet must be restrained by a leash or confined in a cage and observed for 14 days for signs of rabies or submitted to a licensed veterinarian for observation; if immediate assistance is needed, owners must contact the City Veterinary Services Office.
- If the pet dies within 14 days, the owner must call a veterinarian or immediately contact the City Veterinary Services Office for proper submission of samples to the nearest diagnostic laboratory.
Pet-related regulations: shops, shows, trading, population
- All pet shops in Valenzuela must post information on Rabies and Responsible Pet Ownership.
- Pet shops must secure proper permits and comply with registration requirements imposed by the Bureau of Animal Industry.
- Owners entering Valenzuela with pets for exhibition, show, or competition must carry the current certificate of rabies vaccination for each dog or cat presented to authorities when needed.
- Dog meat trading is prohibited.
- A person found trading dogs for meat is liable for penalties under the Anti Rabies Act and this ordinance.
- The ordinance requires an educational and promotional campaign on pet ownership, including an option of spaying and neutering of dogs, as a dog population control measure to eradicate rabies.
Administrative penalties and surcharges
- Any person, corporation, partnership, or entity violating the ordinance’s provisions is subject to the following administrative penalty scale:
- First offense: Warning
- Second offense: PHP 1,000.00
- Third offense: PHP 3,000.00
- Fourth offense: PHP 5,000.00
- A 25% surcharge is added to the penalty if payment is not made within 7 days from receipt of notice.
Penal provision for specified violations
- Upon conviction, any person, corporation, partnership, or entity violating Section 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, and 12 is punishable by a fine of PHP 5,000.00, or imprisonment not exceeding 1 year, or both, at the court’s discretion.
- Using electrocution as a method of euthanasia is punishable by a fine of not less than PHP 5,000.00 per act and imprisonment for 1 year.
- For urination and defecation of animals at any public place or outside the vicinity and comforts of the owner’s home premises, compounds, or other secluded areas where urine and feces are contained, the following penalties apply:
- First offense: Warning
- Second offense: PHP 500.00 fine
- Third offense: PHP 1,000.00 fine
- Fourth offense: PHP 1,500.00 fine or 1 month of imprisonment upon the court’s decision
- It is unlawful for any person owning or having control or custody of a pet to permit the animal to urinate or defecate in public or on the private property of another within Valenzuela.
- Pet owners are directed to take preventive steps, including:
- Carrying at all times a bag or suitable receptacle and instruments for removal and disposal of animal feces when taking animals in public or on another’s private property.
- Ensuring pets are properly restrained with a leash of 2 meters long and properly muzzled during walks or strolls.
- If the violator is an alien, the person must be immediately deported after service of sentence without any further proceedings.
Fines collection and fund allocation
- The City Government of Valenzuela must collect the fines.
- Part of the collection accrues to the general fund.
- Another portion accrues to the City Veterinarian Office fund to be utilized for its operations.
Amendments, separability, repeal, and appropriation
- The ordinance amends Ordinance No. 92-012 (Tax Ordinance) by amending the specific dog impounding/sale fees and dog license fees provisions stated in its title.
- Separability: If any section or provision is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions continue in full force and effect.
- Repealing clause: All executive orders, administrative regulations, city ordinances/resolutions, barangay ordinances/resolutions inconsistent with and contradictory to the ordinance are repealed or modified accordingly.
- The City Government of Valenzuela must provide needed funds and appropriation to meet the ordinance’s purpose.