THE Commission on Audit has amended and strengthened the rules on the transfer of ownership and care over former working dogs retiring from K-9 service or those that did not make the cut after training and evaluation.
Under Circular No. 2024-012 issued on December 16, 2024, the COA has added a provision to the Guidelines on the Disposal of Unserviceable Working Dogs that requires interested parties to submit proof that they can protect and provide for the dogs before being considered as new owners.
The circular applies to working dogs from the military, police, local government units, and other government offices that maintain working dogs as K-9 units.
Under the 2021 Guidelines, government agencies are allowed to dispose of the working animals categorized as “culled working dogs” or those that are deemed not suitable for K-9 duty selection, “green dogs” or those that were acquired without training, and retired K-9 dogs who have rendered the maximum eight years of service.
The permitted manners of disposal are adoption by the human handler or personnel of the agency, donation to a non-profit organization, or, in the case of green dogs, sale through public auction.
Under the three-year guidelines, agencies have to notify the public of dogs for adoption, donation or auction, give interested parties and potential owners and opportunity to know the dogs, keep the proposal of adoption or acquisition sealed for confidentiality, and conduct a fair evaluation of tenders.
The amendment introduced an additional eligibility requirement that the interested party or prospective bidder must submit proof of capacity to care for the animal.
Specifically, this means presenting evidence of “an available doghouse and play area” as well as “availability of a veterinary clinic in the vicinity.”
The COA likewise made it clear that the agency can reject any or all tenders at its discretion.
In extreme cases, the circular allows euthanasia for aged or sickly dogs when there are no other options once certified by a licensed veterinary officer.
The special circumstances are when the animal has an incurable condition and is in constant pain, when it is suffering from an infectious or contagious disease that poses hazards to humans and other animals, and when the dog has behavioral issues that make it a safety risk.
The COA clarified that these are the only exceptions admitted under the Animal Welfare Act of 1998.
COA chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba and Commissioners Roland Café POndoc and Mario Lipana signed the circular.
