DAVAO CITY – The city government announced on Friday, October 20, that they are ready to reinvestigate an animal shelter shut down due to health and sanitation issues.
The closure of Happy Animals Club was initiated after complaints due to the facility’s alleged unpleasant odor and noise that violated the sanitation provision outlined in the Revenue Code of Davao. The city said the shelter needed to address the matter.
In a statement on the city government's Facebook page, the Environmental Sanitation Division of the City Health Office (CHO) said the division has contacted the club's founder, Ken Amante, to conduct a re-inspection of the facility.
Environmental Sanitation Division head Luzviminda Paig said over the Davao City Disaster Radio’s Madayaw Dabaw that their unit is mandated to enforce appropriate sanitation standards for all establishments, including issues on foul odor and disruptive noise following complaints.
“The unit has conducted a series of inspections at the Happy Animals Club to address complaints filed before the CHO and the Office of the Punong Barangay of Matina Aplaya. In all four instances that the CHO sanitary inspector visited the facility, he was denied entry,” Paig said.
Paig said that despite the owner’s resistance to letting the inspector enter the facility, the division gave them ample time to institute mitigating measures to address the unpleasant odor and noise nuisance. However, the owner took no action, thus, a closure order was issued on September 27.
She added that pending the reply and the resolution of this matter from the Happy Animals Club, the decision on the facility’s closure in violation of City Ordinance No. 0291-17 under the Revenue Code of Davao City, particularly the rules and regulations on sanitation, will remain as it is.
In a separate statement on the Happy Animals Club’s Facebook page, Amante belied the allegations that city officials were denied entry to the facility. He said that instead of acknowledging the public outcry and promising to work towards a solution with them, the statement contained blatant lies.
Amante thanked everyone who supported them in their drive to fight for the welfare of rescued animals. He said, “We are touched and deeply humbled by the outpouring of support for our shelter and rescued animals.”
The city government vowed to look into the allegations on impartiality in dealing with the complaint. It said they will not take the matter lightly, and an investigation will be conducted within their ranks to ensure integrity and truth in all undertakings in the city government.