Amendments to IRR of BP 220 housing standards

Legal basis and governing laws

The circular is anchored on Republic Act No. 8485, as amended by Republic Act No. 10631, known as the Animal Welfare Act of 1998.
The circular links facility supervision and regulation of animal-related establishments to R.A. 8485, including Section 1 on the protection and promotion of animal welfare through supervising and regulating facilities used for breeding, maintaining, keeping, treating, or training animals.
The circular is also anchored on Republic Act No. 9482 (the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007), requiring LGUs to control stray animals through a local ordinance.
The circular directs impounding and disposition to be undertaken subject to the pertinent provisions of R.A. 8485, taking into account the required guidelines and minimum standards.
The circular requires euthanasia to follow DA Administrative Order No. 13, Series of 2010, as amended by DA Administrative Order No. 9, Series of 2011 (Revised Rules and Regulations on the Euthanasia of Animals) (Sections 4.1 and 7.4).
The circular requires dead animal disposal in compliance with the implementing rules of PD 856 (Code on Sanitation of the Philippines) (Sections 2.8 and 4.7).
The circular requires animal transportation to follow DA Administrative Order No. 19, Series of 2006 (Rules and Regulations on the Transport of Live Animals by Land) (Section 5.5).
The circular’s penalties are tied to R.A. 8485 as amended (Section 10).

Purpose, policy, and animal welfare freedoms

The circular enforces reasonable regulations on the collection and impounding of animals and on the use and operation of animal pounds (Whereas and implementing intent).
The circular requires observance of the Basic Freedoms of Animals in pound operations.
The Basic Freedoms of Animals are:
- Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition;
- Freedom from physical discomfort and pain;
- Freedom from injury and disease;
- Freedom to conform to essential behavior patterns; and
- Freedom from fear and distress (Section 1).

Definitions and core concepts

An Impounded Animal is any stray animal seized by an animal control officer for the purpose of keeping in an animal pound (Section 2.1).
Primary enclosures are animal enclosures where the animal normally eats, defecates, urinates, rests, and sleeps (Section 2.2).
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are legally constituted organizations that operate independently from any form of government (Section 2.3).
A Pound is a public facility or enclosure intended for stray or confiscated animals to maintain temporary custody, managed by local government units (Section 2.4).
Renovate means changing the size, construction, or composition of pound pens, runs, fences, floors, heating system, water supply system, waste disposal system, or any other physical component governed by the regulations (Section 2.5).
Sanitary refers to health with special reference to cleanliness and freedom from infective and deleterious influences (Section 2.6).
A Stray animal is any animal that has left its owner’s place or premises and is no longer under the effective control of the owner (Section 2.7).
Proper disposal means disposal of dead animals complying with the implementing rules of PD 856 (Code on Sanitation of the Philippines) (Section 2.8).
Euthanasia (commonly known as “mercy killing”) is the process of inducing humane and painless death to animals (Section 2.9).

Coverage and applicable local units

The circular applies to all cities and 1st class municipalities mandated by law for the construction, renovation, establishment, operation, and maintenance of animal pounds (Section 1).
The circular applies to any province and municipality with an existing pound or those that deem proper to establish and operate a pound (Section 1).
A pound under the circular must be a public facility or enclosure for stray or confiscated animals for temporary custody managed by LGUs (Section 2.4).

Pound establishment and animal care standards

Site selection for an LGU pound must be done in coordination with the City/Municipal Planning and Development Office (Section 3.1).
Pound designs must provide an environment conducive to maintaining animal health and must be appropriate to the species, number of animals, and expected length of stay to ensure physical and psychological well-being (Section 3.2).
Pounds must follow required functional facility components including:
- An Administrative Office functioning as the control center with direct access to the reception area and animal cages/enclosures (Section 3.2.1).
- Separate primary enclosures/animal areas for cats and dogs, ideally placing animals in individual cages (Section 3.2.2).
Primary enclosures must be structurally sound, safe for animals, prevent injury, and keep other animals out (Section 3.2.2).
Pound housing must comply with detailed physical and dimensional requirements, including:
- Enough space in holding cages/stalls for animals to feed, sleep, sit, stand, lie with limbs extended, stretch, and move about (Section 3.2.2.1).
- Sufficient height to facilitate easy cleaning (Section 3.2.2.2).
- Enclosure barriers sturdy enough to prevent nose-to-nose contact, with either: at least 1.20 meter tall material or 0.67 meter wire mesh by 1.0 meter minimum wire gauge, separated by at least 0.1m to prevent contact (Section 3.2.2.3).
- Isolation cage dimensions for dogs:
  - Medium breed dogs: 0.76m x 0.92m x 0.61m;
  - Large breed dogs: 0.92m x 0.92m x 0.92m;
  - Extra-large breed dogs: 1.22m x 0.92m x 1.22m (Section 3.2.2.4).
- Cat cage dimensions: 0.46m x 0.61m x 0.61m (Section 3.2.2.4).
- Cage space must allow animals to stand up and lie down comfortably (Section 3.2.2.5).
- Cage frames must be stainless steel for rust-free maintenance and long-lasting use (Section 3.2.2.6).
- Cage flooring must use hard plastic matting sized 1ft. x 2ft. and 1ft. x 3ft. (Section 3.2.2.7).
- Cat housing may be in banks of cages in walk-in modules including a sleeping compartment and an exercise pen (Section 3.2.2.8).
Pound facilities must include medical and procedural rooms, including:
- A Medical and Euthanasia Room adjacent to the isolation area for easy movement of animals for disposal, with a separate entrance from outside, clear vehicle access, and separate ventilation (Section 3.3.3).
- A Surgery Room for performing surgeries (Section 3.3.4).
- Employees’ Quarters allocated within the pound (Section 3.3.5).
Environmental and building requirements must include:
- Mechanical ventilation providing fresh air for health and comfort of impounded animals (Section 3.4.1).
- Pound height of at least 3.0 meters from floor to ceiling (Section 3.4.2).
- Insulation material for roof/ceiling comfort for animals (Section 3.4.3).
- CHB-wall footing with 1.20 m width, wire-mesh continuous walling, and extends to top ceiling height (Section 3.4.4).
Drainage and sanitary infrastructure must include:
- Open drainage of width 0.60m and depth 0.50m, with floors sloping toward a drain outside animal living areas (Section 3.5.1).
- A drain opening of not less than 20cm diameter recommended, covered by a strainer grid (Section 3.5.1).
- Provision of mains sewers and a septic tank essential, built in accordance with the building code (Section 3.5.1).
Water and lighting requirements must include:
- Clean drinking water and sufficient supply for maintaining proper sanitary conditions (Section 3.6.1).
- Appropriate electrical lighting in all pounds, including emergency lights in case of power disruption (Section 3.8.1).
Animal impounding and disposition must follow these operational rules:
- Stray dogs and other animals must be impounded in the LGU designated pounding area and properly disposed of, following the circular’s guidelines and minimum standards (Section 4.1).
- Unregistered, stray, or unvaccinated dogs must be impounded and kept in the LGU designated dog pound (Section 4.1).
- Impounded dogs not claimed after 3 days from the dog pound must be placed for adoption to qualified persons with assistance of an animal welfare NGO when feasible; otherwise, disposal must be in a manner authorized by AO 13 Series of 2010 as amended by AO 9 Series of 2011 (Section 4.1).
Fees and registration charges are governed through LGUs:
- Impounding fees, fines, and other charges must be in accordance with the prevailing local ordinance implemented by the concerned LGU (Section 4.1.1).
- Registration fee amounts must be defined and determined in a provision of any local ordinance for this purpose (Section 4.1.2).
Animal care must meet continuous and minimum feeding and medical requirements:
- Clean drinking water must be provided at all times (Section 4.2.1).
- Adult animals must be fed at least once per day (Section 4.2.1).
- Animals under the age of six (6) months must be fed at least two (2) times per day (Section 4.2.1).
- Animals must be fed an appropriate diet composed of fish, meat, chicken, vegetables, cereals, and other suitable foods (Section 4.2.2).
- Sick or injured animals must be examined and treated by a licensed veterinarian (Section 4.2.3).
Facility maintenance must meet minimum sanitation and disinfection rules:
- The pound must be kept sanitary, cleaned, and disinfected a minimum of once daily (Section 4.3.1).
- Disinfectant used in washing runs, pens, and interior areas must eliminate animal viruses and bacteria without affecting the animals’ paws/skin (Section 4.3.2).
- Cages and pens must be cleaned and disinfected before use by another animal (Section 4.3.3).
- Feces and other excreta must be removed from pens, runs, and troughs immediately (Section 4.3.4).
- Cleaning equipment must be available for proper storage or disposal of waste material to control vermin, insects, and obnoxious odors (Section 4.3.5).
Medicines at the pound must be always available, including:
- Approved euthanasia drugs, rabies vaccines, wound dressing, antibiotic, sedatives, among others (Section 4.4).
Food storage must comply with cleanliness and containment rules:
- Food storage must be clean and free from vermin and insects (Section 4.5).
- Animal food in original packaging must be stored at least 0.30 meters above the floor on clean racks/dollies or other clean surfaces, protected from water and contamination (Section 4.5).
- Unsealed bags of dog food must be stored in covered metal or covered heavy duty plastic containers at least 0.30 meters above the floor, protected from water and contamination (Section 4.5).
- Fresh food not consumed within the day must be stored with proper refrigeration (Section 4.5).
Record-keeping is mandatory:
- Every pound must keep a record of all impounded animals including the Date, Place of Capture, Animal Description, and Impounding Notice (Section 4.6).
Dead animal removal and disposal are time-bound:
- Any dead animal must be immediately removed and disposed of within 24 hours after death, complying with the implementing rules of PD 856 (Section 4.7).
Isolation and quarantine rules are mandatory:
- At least one (1) isolation area must be provided for sick animals and rabies suspects (Section 4.8.1).
- Quarantined impounded animals must be individually kept in an isolation cage (Section 4.8.2).

Transportation and humane catching rules

Impounded animals must be transported by animal control officers or pound keepers under these conditions:
- Transport must be done in the shortest practicable time (Section 5.1.1).
- Animals must be transported in an enclosed and well-ventilated pound vehicle with adequate overhead shade protection when the vehicle is parked under the sun or in hot weather conditions (Section 5.1.2).
- The vehicle must be structurally sound and well maintained and designed/dedicated for transporting animals to protect against injury-causing matter, extremes of temperature, unauthorized release, human harassment, and maltreatment in public areas (Section 5.1.3).
Vehicle design and animal/operator safety requirements include:
- Non-slip floors; easy access and safety to animals and operator; and easy cleaning and disinfection (Section 5.2).
- Clean and secure carry baskets for cats or very small dogs with separate compartments/partitions for larger dogs and transport cages that allow animals to turn around but are small enough to avoid trauma during transport (Section 5.3).
- Appropriate ramp so dogs disembark naturally and avoid jumping (Section 5.4).
Transport of all animals must comply with DA Administrative Order No. 19, Series of 2006 (Rules and Regulations on the Transport of Live Animals by Land) (Section 5.5).
Humane catching is mandatory:
- Capturing, transporting, and restraining must be done in the most humane manner.
- Dragging, whipping, throwing, and unnecessary lifting or pulling by the neck, ears, or legs are prohibited (Section 6.1).
Personnel/catching team selection requirements include:
- Mature individuals demonstrating empathy and acting humanely toward dogs and animals generally (Section 6.2.1).
- Qualified individuals who completed training on humane handling of animals conducted by field experts (Section 6.2.2).
- Courteous to the public (Section 6.2.3).
- Preferably in uniform with visible personal identification (Section 6.2.4).
- A team composition of at least 2 animal catchers and 1 driver (Section 6.2.5).
Equipment selection requirements include:
- Pole Nets must capture moving animals without harming them and must be deep enough to be twisted to fully restrain the dog; they must allow catching more than 2 dogs (Section 6.3.1).
- Loop Pole must restrain a dog while maintaining a safe distance (Section 6.3.2).
- Cage Trap is used for elusive dogs and cats (Section 6.3.3).
Chemical capture for wild and vicious animals is restricted:
- Chemical capture (tranquilize/anesthetize) is used only for wild animals and vicious animals (Section 6.4).
- Only licensed veterinarians or veterinary technicians trained in the method may perform chemical capture (Section 6.4).
- Administration is recommended by blow pipe or syringe mounted on pole (Section 6.4).
- Chemical agents include: Tranquilizer (Acepromazine) and Anesthetics (Xylazine & Ketamine combination, Tiletamine) (Section 6.4).
Lifting and carrying of dogs must prioritize personal safety:
- For vicious and elusive dogs, net pole or loop pole must be used appropriately (Section 6.5).

Management, public access, reporting

Identification requirements in pound operations include:
- All animals must be properly immunized, registered, and issued a corresponding tag (Section 7.1).
- Tattoo or microchip must also be used for identification for adoption when possible (Section 7.1).
Documentation reporting requirement applies:
- All documentation of animals adopted, neutered, and euthanized must be submitted to the Animal Welfare Division - Bureau of Animal Industry by all registered shelters annually (Section 7.2).
Adoption rules include:
- Impounded animals not claimed after three days from the pound must be placed for adoption to qualified persons with assistance of an animal welfare NGO when feasible; otherwise disposed of in a manner authorized under the euthanasia rules, subject to R.A. 8485 as amended by R.A. 10631 and its implementing rules (Section 7.3).
- Animals released through adoption must first be neutered by a licensed veterinarian (Section 7.3).
- Adoption-related information must be indicated in an adoption certificate provided by the animal control facility (Section 7.3).
Euthanasia rules include:
- Unclaimed impounded animals not adopted must be disposed of in a manner authorized by AO 13 Series of 2010 as amended by AO 9 Series of 2011 (Section 7.4).
Public information and transparency requirements include:
- Barangays must be advised in writing by the LGU veterinary office of recently conducted stray animal control operations in their vicinity, and such information must be posted on the barangay bulletin board (Section 7.5).
- The pound must be open to the public during office hours (Section 7.5).
- All records must be accessible to the public (Section 7.5).
- Pounds must ensure they are open 7 days a week to accommodate owners intending to claim their dogs/cats (Section 7.5).
- A transition period of 1 year must be coordinated with the local government unit for effective implementation of the administrative circular (Section 7.5).

Registration, roles, review, and penalties

Mandatory registration with the Bureau of Animal Industry is required:
- All pounds must be registered with the Bureau of Animal Industry as stated in Section 2 of R.A. 8485 (Section 8).
Bureau of Animal Industry functions include:
- The Bureau must register facilities/structures for confinement of animals where animals are bred, treated, maintained, or kept for sale or trade or for training purposes, pursuant to DA-AO No. 8 series of 1999, R.A. 8485, and R.A. 9482, where euthanasia shall also be conducted (Section 9).
- The Bureau must facilitate information exchange, review and monitor approved facilities, and provide policy advice (Section 9).
- The Director may call upon any government agency for assistance to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the rules and regulations, using that agency’s own available funds (Section 9).
Penalties for non-compliance:
- Any violation of the provisions of the rules and regulations is penalized in accordance with R.A. 8485 as amended (Section 10).

Separability, repeal, and final effectivity mechanics

Separability applies:
- If any provision is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining portions remain in full force and effect (Section 11).
Repealing and modifying clause applies:
- All existing administrative orders, circulars, rules and regulations, or parts inconsistent with this circular are repealed or modified accordingly (Section 12).
Publication and filing mechanics govern effectivity:
- Effectivity occurs 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation, and certified copies must be submitted to the National Administrative Register at the University of the Philippines Law Center (Section 13).