AFTER giving the best years of their lives protecting humans, working dogs or K9 dogs from different government agencies are now assured of proper care upon retirement.
The Commission on Audit (COA) has issued Circular No. 2021-011 dated October 15, 2021 setting the guidelines for the transfer of custody over K9 dogs that are separated from the service to private individuals.
Aside from retired working dogs, the circular also recommends proper disposition of culled working dogs or animals that are no longer fit for work due to injury, disease, or poor evaluation performance.
The COA said the guidelines are necessary since the cost of care for non-working animals has become a problem for some agencies particularly those with limited resources.
The primary mode of disposition is through adoption by interested individuals who would be required to sign an adoption agreement form and undergo evaluation by the agency’s Kennel Management Committee.
By order of priority, those who will have a chance to adopt the retiring K9s are the dog’s handlers in his unit, any officer or personnel of the unit with the capacity to provide care, any personnel of the agency who passes the evaluation, any interested person or group with the capacity to assume guardianship of the animal, or the person who donated the dog to the agency.
To ensure compliance with the conditions of adoption, the K9 unit of the government agency is required to inquire on the status of the retired working dog at least once a year.
Recipients found to have failed in extending adequate care for the adopted animal could face penalties under Sections 7 and 9 of the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 or Republic Act 8495.
Another option for transfer of care is by donation to non-stock corporation or foundations with capabilities for treatment and rehabilitation.
On the other hand, “green dogs,” or those classified to have poor potential for K9 service despite training, and culled dogs due to low performance may be sold to interested parties by public auction, negotiation with buyers, or transferred to another government agency.
The COA stressed that under RA 8485, euthanasia or killing of non-working animals is unlawful except for three very specific grounds that require examination and certification by a licensed veterinary officer.
