Putting animals in vehicle trunks for travel constitutes a violation of the Animal Welfare Act of 1990.
City Veterinarian Silardo Bested issued this reminder to a bus company operating in the city after receiving a report last Jan. 27 on a dog allegedly loaded in the trunk of one of its buses.
“Please be reminded of the provision of the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 8485 (Animal Welfare Act of 1998) as amended by RA 10631, Section 4, Rule 4.1 (Cruelty in Transportation),” Bested noted in his letter to the bus company.
“Cruelty in transportation shall include overcrowding, putting the animals in the trunk, under the hood, top load, or hanging the same is an unsafe, uncomfortable condition or situation.”
He advised the company to also comply with the guidelines on pet transport as provided in Memorandum Circular 2020-003 of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
As per the memorandum, pets are in allowed in public utility vehicles (PUVs) provided they are inside carriers/cages and placed at designated animal compartment of the PUV, should there be other passengers inside the PUV.
If there are no other passengers, pets may be allowed to be carried by the owner as long as said animals are free from foul odor and that the owner maintains cleanliness and sanitation. Further, the possessor or pet owner shall be responsible for the damage that the pet may cause, including the cleaning and sanitation of the PUV, as may be necessary.
Safety, convenience, and comfort of the passengers shall not in any way be sacrificed. – Aileen P. Refuerzo
April 26, 2024
