The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved on first reading a proposed ordinance mandating pet owners to have their pets wear diapers before entering establishments such as malls, groceries, restaurants, and other similar establishments who chose to avail of the provisions of the measure.
Local legislators stated that pet owners whose pets are not wearing pet diapers will be disallowed and prohibited by establishment managers, their administrators, staff or security personnel from entering their respective businesses.
The council required establishments that opt to avail of the provisions of the ordinance to post signs in their entrances stating that ‘pet diapers are required in this establishment’ or other similar statements to inform their clients on the said matter.
Under the proposed ordinance, pet owners whose pets are not wearing pet diapers will be apprehended by establishment personnel and will only be required to purchase a pet diaper for their pets before allowing them enter their respective businesses or similar establishments who impose the provisions of the measure.
According to the council, if for some reason, the pet diaper may have been dislodged, remove by the pet, without the pet owner noticing or any other reason that did not prevent the pet from urinating or excreting their at, P500 may be charged by the establishment owner for urinating and P1,000 for excretion.
Further, pet owners are also required to clean the mess of their pets, including disinfecting the affected areas.
The mandatory waring of pet diapers imposed by the city is part of its ongoing advocacy for responsible pet ownership.
The proposed ordinance was referred to the appropriate committee for study and recommendation on whether the same will be passed on second and third readings based on the internal rules and procedures of the council. (Dexter A. See)
