By Jonathan Hicap The Muntinlupa City government has denied reports that there was planned euthanasia of 35 impounded dogs on June 18 if these animals were not adopted by that date. The city-owned Muntinlupa Animal Pound in Barangay Tunasan. (Photo courtesy of the Muntinlupa City government) “There is no such schedule. The local government also refutes rumors of incineration of said stray dogs as claimed in messages posted in social media because we do not have a crematory machine at the present,” the city said. It said that the Office of the City Veterinarian (OCV) impounds dogs to eliminate the spread of animal rabies that poses a threat to public health, and accepts abandoned and neglected dogs on the streets and voluntary surrenders. These dogs are sheltered at the Muntinlupa Animal Pound in Barangay Tunasan where they undergo rehabilitation program for adoption. Most of the adopted dogs are puppies but the OCV lamented that the adoption rate for other dogs is very low. In accordance with the Muntinlupa City Veterinary Code or Ordinance 17-080 and Republic Act 9482 or the Anti-Rabies Act, impounded dogs held within the prescribed period in MAP or for until two weeks, and stray dogs, those carrying contagious diseases, that are not claimed during the holding period are humanely euthanized. The OCV uses sedative, anesthesia and magnesium sulfate for euthanasia. Under the ordinance, euthanasia of unclaimed animals will be done when the animal has an incurable and communicable disease when the killing is necessary to end the misery suffered by the animal, to prevent imminent danger to the life or limb of a human being and for animal population control. Dr. Pam Hernandez, the city veterinarian, told Manila Bulletin that the city encourages people to adopt the dogs but after two weeks, these are put to sleep due to lack of resources to sustain them. “Minaximize na namin to two weeks. Kapag hindi pa rin sila na-adopt, we put them to sleep. It’s how a pound runs. Usually ang pound is handled by the government. The government doesn’t have the capability to sustain all the dogs na nahuhuli namin. Kaya nga po yun yung difference nya with the shelters owned ng non-government organizations na capable at have the finances to sustain the shelters. Ang goal talaga namin ma-lessen yung nahuhuli namin,” she said. The ordinance provides that if the impounded dog is not redeemed by its owner in 72 hours from the time it was impounded, it is put up for adoption. She also belied the news report (not in the Manila Bulletin) about the 35 dogs that were supposedly scheduled for euthanasia on June 18. “Hindi po namin alam kung saan nila nakuha yung information na yun. Currently, they are open for adoption,” she said, adding that yesterday (June 18), people have flocked to the animal pound to adopt the dogs. Hernandez also denied that a crematory machine was to be used to kill the dogs, saying that the city doesn’t own any machine. The photo that was posted on social media showing a crematory machine was a demo machine only that was scheduled for a pullout on June 18. The city government emphasized that the cremation of animals will be the same as with humans wherein a cadaver or dead body is put inside the machine and not live dogs.