Surge in stray Dogs sparks calls for action

One resident of Barangay San Miguel find it disgusting that a stray dog is roaming in their neighborhood and attacked passersby. It prompted him to call the attention of the City Veterinary Office to intensify impounding operation as the increasing number of stray dogs in Puerto Princesa is alarming.

Jedidiah Dawn Reynoso Tablazon of Barangay San Jose was also disgusted by these stray dogs as they are increasing.

“Sobrang dami po kasi ng nanaghahabol na aso ditto sa St. Mary’s Village at Employees Village ng San Jose, tapos may nakagat na na senior (citizen) pati mga bata or matanda na naglalakad at nag mo motor hinahabol,” she said.

Not only in San Jose and San Miguel, barangay officials of Barangay Sta Monica said that they have received some complaints from residents that they were chased and attacked by stray dogs. In Employees Village, stray dogs who chase passersby are found in almost every corner.

“Dito sa Employees, bawat kanto o bawat block may nagahabol na mga asong pinakawalan lang. Napaka irresponsible naman ng mga nag-alaga ng mga asong yan. Perwisyo na sobra ang mga asong ganyan,” 40-year old Reynald said.

He showed where these stray dogs are located, three dogs are found in front of a coffee shop adjacent to Puerto Princesa Schools of Arts and Trade (PPSAT), and in each blocks of the Employees Village. Even in south national road of Sta. Monica, near the store of Almirante, a rice trader/retailer, stray dogs chased and attacked motorcycle riders.

“Sa loob ng Employees, bawat block ay may asong nanghahabol, mismong sa may arko ng race track, kung mangagaling ang motor sa highway tapos liliko, hahabulin,” he said.

Janelle, 17, an incoming college student of Western Philippine University (WPU) said that she was attacked by a big dog known as “Creamy” near Palawan International Circuit race track. She said that they have reported the matter not only to the barangay, even to radio station, but still stray dogs and irresponsible owners of these stray dogs are increasing.

Cyruscarl Angeles said that no need to report the matter to the City Veterinary Office, because drunkards preferred food from dog meat for their pulutan. “Wag kana maghanap ng dog pound, yung mga manginginum nalang hanapin mo, pampulutan nila yan,”.

Bernardo Lorenzana Pe in his comment said that it if these stray dogs are becoming a threat to their safety, it is better to poison them.

Ronnie Dan Garcia Salazar in his social media post as message to the authorities, admitted that he has been bothered by the number of motor vehicular accidents that they received at the emergency room caused by a stray dog who either crossed the street or chased the driver. He said that a patient died due to severe head injury, chest or abdominal injuries.

He said that not only locals are victimized by these stray dogs, but foreigners who are renting motorbikes. Some foreigners, he said has been admitted to the hospital too, describing the presence of stray dogs in streets and public places as “bad for tourism and bad for our locality” referring to Puerto Princesa and Palawan.

“So I am appealing to our local authorities and barangay officials to implement strict banning of our dogs from roaming our streets. Responsible ownership must be imposed, that no dogs shall roam our streets without a leash. Stray dogs must be caught and impounded. Owners must be fine or penalize if their dogs causes an accident. If you do not know how to care for a dog or any animal, don’t ever own one. Let us all work together to make our streets safe,” Salazar pleaded both the animal owners and the authorities.

Mike Escote who is a barangay kagawad of Sicsican said that their barangay has the highest number of patients when it comes to anti-rabies vaccines due to these stray dogs. He said that he even proposed to their punong barangay, Balbino Parangue that they shall form Task Force Aso so that at the barangay level, they can deal with these stray dogs.

Last month, the City Veterinary Office announced that they are intensifying their campaign against stray dogs. “Bilang tugon sa patuloy na suliranin sa pagdami ng mga asong gala sa mga lansangan ng lungsod, inilunsad ng Puerto Princesa City Veterinary Office ang mas pinaigting nitong kampanya upang mapanatili ang kaayusan, kalinisan, at kaligtasan ng publiko,”

Dealing with the increasing number of stray dogs roaming in the streets and public places in Puerto Princesa is a welcome development not only to locals but for tourists as well.
Intensified impounding of these stray dogs will someday result to zero stray dogs. When this happen, vehicular accidents caused by dogs is expected to decrease, people feel that they are safe while on our streets, and their personal space are respected.