A PROPOSED construction of animal crematorium in Davao City near the city pound in Maa was approved and recommended by the City Council Committee on Agriculture and Food on Wednesday, August 16.
In a committee hearing, representatives from City Veterinarian's Office (CVO) said that the project will come as a best solution to house the dead carcasses of euthanized dogs whose storage area is almost full.
"Mahirap kasi kahit mainit or umuulan, umaamoy siya (It sometimes smells whether it's raining or not)," Noel Martin, City Veterinarians Office-Veterinarian IV said.
The city pound was built in 1996 and its mode for disposal of the dogs is through the use of septic tank near the area.
He said that septic tanks take about three years to be full.
"[We really] have a problem in proper disposal which made us ask why not make an animal crematorium," he added.
Martin said that the initial phase of the project will be funded by Department of Agriculture (DA) which agreed to set aside P1.2 million for the building construction and more than 2.5 million for the purchase of the machine.
Martin said that they eye that this building will be finished by the end of the year.
The DA will be responsible for the program of works and the Engineering structure which is already completed while the CVO is assigned for the paper works and approval of building and machine.
He said that the area where the crematorium will be built is a titled land owned by the government and that the building construction has already passed the Local Zoning Board.
Councilor Abella raised whether or not the crematorium will violate Animal Welfare Act but Martin assured that this will not be the case because the dogs will be euthanized before it is cremated.
CVO impounds a total of 25 heads per day and impounds an average of 125 heads of dogs wherein only 20 percent are retrieved by their owners.
The remaining number of heads, more or less 100 in number, is scheduled to be euthanized in two batches, with 50 heads per batch.
The ideal number of kilos that can be catered in the proposed crematorium is 400 kilograms.
Meanwhile, during the hearing Davao City Councilor Marissa Abella suggested that for the meantime, the CVO must use halophyte technology, or other means of treat waste water near the septic tank as it may contain residue that may cause harm in the health.
Martin said that their septic tank runs deep around 12 feet by 12 feet area. It is separated into two chambers and they also cover the septic tank.
Currently, the CVO spray biotech disinfectant for the immediate decomposition of the dogs.
Martin said that the approval of the crematorium will make their practice of the disposal of dogs more environment-friendly. (KVC)