By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Bach Project PH, a non-profit organization which is into animal welfare advocacy, initiated an adoption drive here to save more than 70 dogs, including puppies, from euthanasia or mercy killing.
Adopters came from various areas in the province, even as far as La Carlota City, to claim their new pets during the adoption drive dubbed “Clear the Pound” in coordination with the City Veterinary Office at Barangay 35 here last Saturday.
Daniel Sam Salvatierra, Bach Project PH’s volunteer and spokesperson, said it is their pilot adoption event which she claimed to probably be the biggest in the Philippines.
Salvatierra said the dogs were considered “stray” based on the anti-rabies law, thus they impounded them after they were found not in the proper premises of the owners.
Every impounded dog is campaigned for adoption, she said.
“Whether they were caught by the impounding team or surrendered,” she added.
Salvatierra said that if these dogs are unclaimed or “redeemed” by the owner in three to five days, they will be subjected to euthanasia as provided by law.
“We want to give light and hope to all the animal advocates in the country and perhaps the world too, through our adoption drive,” she added.
She said that they are working on the pound’s conversion into a “non-kill” shelter/facility.
Salvatierra said that some dogs were also surrendered by their owners and the same fate will happen to them if no one adopts them.
The group hoped that adopters will be able to really take care of the dogs and give them a safe, clean, and comfortable environment.
The group thanked all the volunteers, adopters, rescuers, fosterers, and fellow advocates for their relentless support and cooperation.
Meanwhile, the group is planning a collaborative work with the local government units (LGU) regarding the improvement of the current animal welfare status in the city.
