Pet adoptions up 1,500 percent
Cebu City’s Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries reported a 1,500% surge in pet adoptions in April 2026, driven by social media promotion on Mayor Nestor Archival’s Facebook page, while also enforcing meat safety regulations and handling animal health programs. The department condemned 743.3 kilograms of unsafe meat, vaccinated 3,048 animals against rabies, and addressed five cases of animal neglect or maltreatment during the month.
Cebu City’s Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) recorded a 1,500% increase in pet adoptions in April 2026, with 16 animals adopted compared to just one in the same month last year. The surge was attributed to social media campaigns on Mayor Nestor Archival’s Facebook page, which promoted adoption drives alongside rabies vaccination and pet registration services at Ayala Central Bloc. Pet registrations also rose to 1,451 from 916 in the same period last year. The DVMF generated ₱2.13 million in revenue for April, a 1% year-on-year increase, with total collections from January to April reaching ₱9.83 million—a 14% rise. The City Meat Inspection Service (CMIS) condemned 743.3 kilograms of meat and animal by-products due to diseases like pneumonia and jaundice in livestock, while confiscating an additional 90.54 kilograms for violations such as improper handling and unauthorized sales of mechanically deboned meat. The CMIS processed 8,167 hogs and 53,629 dressed chickens in registered private slaughterhouses, alongside 2,235 hogs, 118 cattle, and 65,835 dressed chickens in accredited facilities. Seven warnings and 18 citation tickets were issued for safety violations, and seminars on hygienic meat handling were conducted for vendors and processors. In animal health, the division tested eight rabies samples, five of which were positive, with no human cases reported. A total of 3,048 animals were vaccinated, 366 underwent neutering or castration, and 435 were spayed. The Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release (CNVR) program covered 107 animals, down from 141 in April 2025. The city animal clinic served 344 clients, offering diagnostics, chemotherapy, and dental procedures. The Animal Welfare Program handled five cases of neglect or maltreatment, issuing citations and barangay referrals, while seven animal facilities were certified. Awareness campaigns were conducted in barangays and public markets, including rabies education at Taboan Public Market. Mobile veterinary services were deployed to barangays like Sirao and Tisa to support community health initiatives.
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