Quezon City opens animal care and adoption center for stray cats and dogs

The city pound used to spell a death sentence for strays. Now, animals can enjoy a second lease in life after the Quezon City government converted its 450 square-meter animal pound in barangay Payatas into a care and adoption center for stray cats and dogs.

The city calls its new adoption center the “first comprehensive approach in rehabilitating animals to find them new homes,” and can now accommodate up to 60 animals.

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The new center now includes a surgery room for dogs and cats that need to be neutered and spayed, as well as other animals that need immediate medical attention.

Sick animals will be placed in separate cages to isolate them from healthy animals.

The animal care and adoption center is part of Quezon City’s new Animal Welfare and Rehabilitation Program where impounded cats and dogs will be rehabilitated, trained, and put up for adoption instead of euthanizing or putting the animals down.

“We will be transforming our existing City Pound into an adoption center to promote animal adoption. The city believes that every animal deserves a loving and caring family, since dogs and cats are known to be good companion animals,” Quezon City mayor Joy Belmonte said in a statement.

The Quezon City government said on social media that the adoption center was the fruitful result of consultations with various animal welfare groups advocating for humane treatment of the city’s rescued animals.

Neglected cats and dogs can receive a second chance at a loving home and good “fur parents” that can take care of them, they added.

Figures from the city veterinary department showed that the city pound captures an average of 200 animals weekly or 9,600 homeless animals per year, but less than one percent of the animals end up adopted.

City veterinarian Dr. Ana Marie Cabel said that each animal will be rehabilitated before being offered for adoption.

“Captured dogs and cats not claimed by their owners for at least three days will be up for adoption. With the help of the city council, we are currently creating the homing and adoption policy for them,” Cabel said.

The Quezon City government has also coordinated with animal welfare advocates to ensure that the program complies with Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act.

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