Problems encountered by residents and their perceived action taken by LGU
concerning stray dogs on F. Rafols Road, Sta Monica
INTRODUCTION
Issues have existed in all communities, with varying degrees of gravity, causes, and
implications for the community's survival. A social problem is a state or pattern of
conduct many people consider harmful (Gilligan, 2007). Certain situations harm
individuals, such as not having enough money to purchase essential food, housing, and
clothes, being unable to find work or enduring the impacts of pollution. The degree to
which these or other situations or behaviors become societal issues, on the other hand,
is determined by their existence and the amount of public concern (DeFonzo & Gill,
2020). A social issue might be observed at either the personal or societal levels. A
problem is social if and only if it impacts a more significant number of people. One social
problem in local communities is stray dogs, and one solution is regulations or law that
aims to eradicate a specific problem in the community if it is adequately implemented.
Laws defend our general safety and our liberties from abuses committed by other
individuals, institutions, and authorities. We have laws in place to assist in ensuring our
overall security. They are available at the municipal, state, and national levels. Moreover,
the law is expected to be significantly responsible for control, social transformation, and
conflict settlement (Sage Publication, 2018). Unfortunately, laws have largely failed to
achieve their goals. The mere presence of formal rules does not guarantee that they will
have the desired results. Many laws in developing nations remained unenforced,
partially implemented, or difficult to execute (World Development Report, 2017). Thus,
social problems continue to exist in society.
The existing social problem and the lack of proper law implementation in the
community became the reason for conducting this study. Specifically, the researchers
will investigate the issue regarding stray dogs and the absence of LGU in implementing
dog-pounding regulations in F. Rafols Road, Sta Monica, Puerto Princesa City. In order
to meet these objectives, the quantitative method will be utilized, and data gathering will
be through a questionnaire. The results of the study will give light on the intensity of law
implementation in the said area; hence will be of significance to many sectors.
ISSUES
As people started taking an interest in and raising animals, they took on the task of
controlling their population growth. One of the many adverse outcomes of failing to
address this need is the increased number of dogs living without proper supervision in
urban areas (Guilloux et al., 2018). This population threatens human and environmental
health because of the potential for pollution, dog bites, predatory behavior, car accidents,
and the spread of zoonotic diseases.
Animals who haven't previously been owned and were born and raised on the
streets are called strays. Animals lost and unable to return home are also considered
strays, as are pets that their owners no longer desire and discard in the community or at
an animal shelter. Despite their name, strays are NOT wild creatures but domesticated
pets that have become loose.
Abandonment is the primary cause of stray animals, leading to unchecked
reproduction and subsequent generations of homeless pets. People often fail to give
their dogs the attention they need because they may not realize how much time is
involved (Singh, 2022). Lack of laws or enforcement addressing desertion, ownership,
and certification exacerbates behavioral problems like aggressiveness, medical issues,
the expense of pet ownership, and lifestyle changes, including health troubles and
financial concerns.
They can also scrounge for food. Stray animals may live in the wild thanks to the
abundance of food available from exposed waste. Surviving without this food supply
would be more challenging (Jarrett, 2018). Furthermore, they may easily create
offspring. A homeless dog typically has two litters a year, each containing six to nine
pups. As a result, a couple of strays may produce 80–90 offspring throughout a lifetime.
Lastly, the people who live in slums, store owners, and those who keep these creatures
as "free-roaming pets" and provide for them all contribute to the rise in their numbers.
The problem of homeless pets is not new to the Philippines. There are 256.3 dogs
for every 1000 people on the Philippines' larger islands, 213.8 dogs for every 1000
people in the country's semi-urban and metropolitan regions, and 170.0 dogs for every
1000 people on the country's smaller islands. It is estimated that there are around 23.29
million dogs in the Philippines (Chaudhari, 2022). Out of these, the population of stray
dogs amounts to 13 million.
Animals like this regularly cause traffic backups and accidents. During the night,
vehicles become more dangerous when they are more likely to be out and about since
they have difficulty seeing the free roaming. Stray animals have caused several fatalities
and injuries. Dogs and other homeless animals have become a severe problem in urban
areas because they tend to bark excessively and bite anybody they encounter (Jarrett,
2018).
Stray dog overpopulation is a significant public safety issue. People in locations with
high concentrations of strays are at increased risk of contracting zoonotic diseases,
including rabies, Lyme disease, and others transmitted by animals. A further issue for
locals is the interruption produced by stray dogs barking due to territorial battles.
Reducing the number of strays may help lower the incidence of illness and prevent dog
attacks.
In order to solve this problem, the government provides an intervention through law
creation and implementation. It is the R.A. 9482 or "Anti Rabies Act of 2007".
Specifically, Section 7 provides detailed information on the responsibilities of LGU to
address the problem of stray dogs. The passage below is the content of R.A. 9482:
Section 7:
“Sec. 7. Responsibilities of the LGUs. - LGUs, in their respective
localities, shall:
(1) ensure that all Dogs are properly immunized, registered and
issued a corresponding Dog tag for every immunized and registered
Dog.
(2) Strictly enforce Dog Impounding activities and field control to
eliminate Stray Dogs.
(3) Ensure that Dogs are leashed or confined within the premises of
the Owner’s house or Owner’s fenced surroundings.
(4) Allocate funds to augment the implementation of the National
Rabies Prevention and Control Program, particularly on the
financing of supplies and human and Dog vaccines needed for
immunization.
(5) Ensure the enforcement of Section 6 of Republic Act No. 8485 or
“The Animal Welfare Act of 1998”.
(6) Enact additional local ordinances that will support the National
Rabies Prevention and Control Program that should include the
regulation of treatment locally known as “tandok.”
(7) Prohibit the trade of Dogs for meat.
(8) With respect to cities and first class municipalities, establish and
maintain a Dog Pound where Impounded Dogs shall be kept, in
accordance with Section 9 herein: Provided, That the other
municipalities, shall, on their own, establish a Dog Pound or opt to
share the expense of establishing and maintaining a Dog Pound
with other adjoining municipalities and/or with private animal
shelters and control facilities.
(9) Prohibit the use of electrocution as a euthanasia procedure.
(10) Appoint a veterinarian and establish a veterinary office in every
province, city and first-class municipality: Provided, That the other
municipalities shall, on their own, opt to share the expense of having
a veterinary office.
(11) Require pet shops to post information regarding Rabies and
responsible pet ownership.
(12) For purposes of ensuring the administrative feasibility of
implementing the provisions of this Act and subject to paragraph 8
of this Section, the LGU shall collect the fines imposed under
Section 11 subparagraphs (1). (3), (4), (5) and (6) hereof.
Any and all fines collected pursuant to this Act shall be used for the
enhancement of the National Rabies Prevention and Control
Program within the locality concerned, as well as the achievement of
the objectives envisioned in this Act.
The DILG shall ensure compliance of these responsibilities by the
LGUs.” (Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) Animal
Rehabilitation Center, 2007).
Conclusively, R.A. 9482: Section 7 includes certification, impounding activities,
vaccinations, and euthanasia to control the stray dog population within an area.
LITERATURE REVIEW
A. Social problems involve many theories, which include their creation and the
factors that may solve them.
According to Mills (1959), "public concerns," or social problems affecting many
people, have their roots in a given country's cultural and social framework. Systemic
issues may partially explain individual difficulties in society. Mills invented the phrase
"sociological imagination" to describe the capacity to see the structural foundation for
particular challenges. He believed many problems, typically private worries, are better
understood as public ones. Some theoretical frameworks are introduced to better
understand the foundation of social issues. One of these is conflict theory.
According to the idea of conflict, societal development is propelled by the inevitable
tensions and wars resulting from unequal wealth, power, and prestige (Crossman, 2019).
Controlling the means of production, the means of accumulation, the mechanisms of
government, and the social structures that give rise to a functional society are all ways of
gaining power in this setting.
Moreover, it also implies that fundamental flaws in a society's structure are the root
cause of social issues, reflecting and perpetuating existing inequities in terms of
socioeconomic status, race and gender, and other categories. In order to effectively
address social issues, substantial adjustments must be made to how society is
organized (Boundless, 2020).
Pervasive inequality exists in our society based on socioeconomic class, color,
gender, and other characteristics. Significant societal changes are required to achieve
social equality and eradicate existing inequalities.
Concerning the problem introduced in the study, through conflict theory, problems
regarding stray dogs may be caused by social differences. People cannot care for or
domesticate animals, resulting in abandonment. Thus, it increases the population of
strays.
Another theory is functionalism. According to this, weakening societal stability, but
without pointing to underlying structural flaws in society. Slow and steady social
transformation is preferable to a massive upheaval to solve societal issues. Despite their
detriment to the community, social problems often serve practical purposes.
A thriving civilization requires social stability, which needs proper socialization and
integration. The social institutions of a society serve essential purposes in maintaining
social harmony. Change in society at a slow pace is desired, yet change at a quick rate
may be disruptive to established norms and institutions.
Concerning the problem of the study regarding stray dogs through the theory of
functionalism, social institutions, such as the government, may be of intervention to
solve underlying issues in the community.
B. In order to properly manage populations of stray animals, it is crucial to develop a
strategy with a long-term and consistent outlook. The goal is to ensure the safety of both
humans and animals against these pests. The efforts to manage stray animals have
shown us that it takes more than one technique to succeed. The notion of "ownership,"
as understood in Western society, is the most often used tactic. This approach seeks to
manage the animal population by controlled breeding and selling and through education
of pet owners, required certification and registration, environmental management, and
reproductive control of pets. Both enforceable and comprehensive legislation is
necessary to govern all these standards. The desire of various government agencies,
towns, veterinarian agencies, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to
cooperate and collaborate is crucial to effectively implementing these guidelines.
MagliaBatista (2019) described the impact of stray dogs on the neighborhood by
conducting an in-depth analysis of accumulated data and tailoring survey questions to
various demographics of residents. All the people he interviewed for his study reported
having some experience with homeless animal bites themselves, having seen someone
else being bitten, or knowing someone who had been bitten. Several people also
stressed that youngsters are particularly vulnerable to attack from these dogs. When
children are followed by packs of dogs and bitten, their families aren't guaranteed to be
capable of paying for medical treatment for their children.
The journal of Abdulkarim et al. (2021) uses a collective literature review to discuss
stray animal population control. According to them, Ownership, whether individual or
collective responsibility among members of society, plays a significant role in the daily
lives of domestic animals. Owners are crucial when managing pets in the neighborhood
or other surroundings. Some pet owners may not have enough money to care for their
pets properly. They cannot provide for the animals' needs, so that they may be
dangerous to the surrounding community. As a result of the factors mentioned above,
pets are often abandoned while out on the streets, where they join the homeless
community and transmit zoonotic illnesses to people and other animals.
Predation, road traffic accidents, excrement, urine fumigation, disturbance, raging
during reproduction, foraging for food on accessible trash, hurting people as in the case
of such a rabid dog, contamination, and endangering domesticated animals by attacking
and biting are the major challenge and impacts of homeless animals on the community.
They also offered the following method to control the stray animal population. The
following are shown below:
The first of them is Contraception is a way of preventing reproduction in female
animals that the use of a pill, device, or operation may accomplish. Contraceptive
technique selection should consider effectiveness, safety, availability, acceptability, and
price.
The second method is trap-neuter-return, in which animals are captured, neutered,
and released to their natural environment. Veterinary surgeons execute the surgery by
spaying a female or castrating a male animal. Animal welfare groups suggest TNR as a
humane stray animal population management method.
The third option is euthanasia may be accomplished by delivering a high amount of
anesthetic substances such as sedatives, such as ketamine, a potassium-containing
molecule beyond precise dose. It is painless, producing quick unconsciousness,
respiratory and cardiac collapse, and death. In other terms, it is the induction of an easy
death.
The fourth is poisoning. Poisons are chemical compounds that hurt or destroy
organs, systems, or the body. It occurs due to chemical reactions when an animal
consumes or is subjected to sufficient substances. Poisoning has been used in the past
to manage the homeless dog population.
Finally, there is shooting. Another fast, painless, and effective way of free-roaming
animal population reduction is shooting. That can be done if the bullets strike the
intended animals. Everyone who does not have official approval has a hurdle while
handling a gun. Shooting homeless animals in the city are dangerous, with several
hazards if the target is missed and accidentally affects humans. In other circumstances,
wandering animals could not suddenly die after being shot and may survive with agony
and suffering for a long time.
Lachica et al. (2018) also have sentiments regarding the problems with stray dogs.
However, the solution they are investigating is the government intervention and how it
can decrease the statistics of rabies victims within their area. Since 2010, their
government has used four methods to reduce the prevalence of rabies: increased
vaccination efforts, impounding dogs, castration, and public awareness campaigns.
Moreover, they discovered that the necessity of proper pet ownership is highlighted
because stray dogs significantly contribute to the spread of rabies. The climatic data
indicates that impounding stray dogs is a viable control approach and that this strategy
should be stepped up during the summer months when strays are more active.
C. The researchers will utilize functionalism theory. The study will examine local
government intervention in solving social problems regarding stray dogs. With that in
mind, the study of
Lachica et al. (2018) will be of reference.
METHODOLOGY
Overpopulation of stray dogs causes problems, including dog-on-human aggression,
dog attacks, and car accidents, as dogs follow one another blindly down the street, litter
the house, and bark incessantly. The effects of canine overpopulation on people have
prompted severe sustainability issues in many regions of the globe. Government
interventions are the discussed interventions to solve this problem. The problem of stray
dogs within the community and the actions undertaken by the LGU prompted the
researchers to conduct a study. Specifically, the paper aims to identify the following:
1. What are the problems encountered by the residents in F. Rafols road, Sta
Monica, concerning stray dogs?
2. What is the perceived action of LGU among residents concerning stray dogs?
3. What is the significant relationship between problems encountered by the
residents and their perceived action of LGU concerning stray dogs in F. Rafols
road, Sta Monica?
In order to adequately address the given problem, numerical data will be needed.
Thus, the paper will use a quantitative research design, using a questionnaire to gather
data. It is self-administered and consists of two parts, corresponding to SOP 1 & 2. To
choose the participants, convenience sampling will be enforced. It is the process of
picking the respondents based on their availability and accessibility. The locale will be in
F. Rafols road stamonica.
The process of data gathering is as follows.
1. Creating a self-administered questionnaire corresponding to SOP 1 & 2.
2. Select the respondent through convenience sampling.
3. Disseminate the questionnaire to the respondents and as them to answer the
following question.
4. Collect the questionnaires from the respondents.
After the collection of data, it will be analyzed through descriptive and inferential
analysis. A tabulated form of the results will be shown in the study.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
PART I. PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY RESIDENTS REGARDING STRAY DOGS
Table 1. Problems Encountered By Residents Regarding Stray Dogs
Problems
Mean
Qualitative
Rating
Description
It scatters trash from trash cans/bins.
3.08
Strongly Agree
It causes vehicular accidents.
3.24
Strongly Agree
It damages properties.
3.12
Strongly Agree
Its feces is all over the street, causing pollution.
3.20
Strongly Agree
It brings danger to the community by barking and
3.36
Strongly Agree
3.16
Strongly Agree
chasing someone unconditionally.
It brings fleas, lice, and other parasites.
The table above presents the assessment of the respondents about the problems
encountered by their area regarding stray dogs. Based on the results, at the margin
between 3.01 and 4.00, the respondents strongly agree to the statements that the stray
dogs scatter trash from trash cans/bins cause vehicular accidents damage properties
have their feces all over the street which cause pollution, and brings danger to the
community by barking and chasing people people on the street. Moreover the
respondents also strongly agree that stray dogs bring fleas lice and other parasites.
PART II. PERCEIVED ACTIONS TAKEN BY LGU CONCERNING STRAY DOGS
Table 2. Perceived Actions Taken By LGU Concerning Stray Dogs
Problems
Mean
Qualitative
Rating
Description
The LGU strictly enforce Dog Impounding activities
1.79
Disagree
The LGU ensures that Dogs are leashed or confined
1.96
Disagree
1.85
Disagree
2.77
Agree
1.51
Disagree
2.27
Agree
within the premises of the Owner’s house or Owner’s
fenced surrounding.
The LGU established and maintains a Dog Pound
where Impounded Dogs shall be kept.
The LGU ensures that all Dogs are properly
immunized/ registered
The LGU post information regarding responsible
ownership of dogs
The LGU circles around the purok to monitor the state
and number of stray dogs.
Shown in Table 2 are the respondents’ perceived actions taken by the LGU
concerning stray dogs. According to the outcome, at the range of 2.01 to 3, the
respondents agree that the LGU ensures that all Dogs are properly immunized or
registered. They also agree that the LGU patrols around the purok to monitor the state
and number of stray dogs. On the other hand, at the range of 1.01 to 2.00, the
respondents disagree that the LGU strictly enforce Dog Impounding activities as well as
ensuring that Dogs are leashed or confined within the premises of the Owner’s house or
Owner’s fenced surrounding. In line with this, the respondents disagree that the LGU
established and maintains a Dog Pound where Impounding Dogs shall be kept. They
also disagree that the LGU posts information regarding responsible ownership of dogs.
PART
III.
SIGNIFICANT
RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN
THE
PROBLEMS
ENCOUNTERED BY THE RESIDENTS AND THE PERCEIVED ACTIONS TAKEN BY
THE LGU CONCERNING STRAY DOGS
Table 3. Significant Relationship Between The Problems Encountered By The
Residents And Their Perceived Actions Taken By The LGU Concerning Stray
Dogs
Variable
p-value
Qualitative Description
Problems Encountered and
.000042
Significant
Perceived Actions
Table 2 shows the significant relationship between the problems encountered by the
residents and their perceived actions taken by the LGU concerning stray dogs. With a
p-value less than .05, the problems encountered by the residents regarding stray dogs
and the perceived actions of LGU appears to have a significant relationship.
The residents' problem results show similar results to other studies and journals.
Part 1 shows that pollution, disturbance, and aggression have been evident in the
community and have been experienced by the residents. It is similar to the statement of
Abdulkarim et al. (2021), stating that the main problem and impact of homeless animals
are that they pose a threat to domesticated animals by attacking and biting, as well as to
humans through predation, road traffic accidents, feces, urine disposal, disorder, raging
during conception, foraging for food on easily accessible trash, and attacking people as
in the case of such a rabid dog.
However, unlike the study of
Lachica et al. (2018), stating that government
intervention or program became a significant factor in reducing the stray dog population,
residents in F. Rafols road that the actions of LGU are subtle. Impounding activities and
other methods in reducing the stray dogs' population are not adequately being
implemented by the LGU. Hence, the problem still pervades.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
When humans became more involved in domesticating animals, they also took on
the responsibility of regulating their numbers. Increases in dogs in urban settings without
human supervision constitute one of the numerous negative results of ignoring this
demand. Contamination, dog bites, aggressive behavior, vehicular accidents, and the
transmission of zoonotic illnesses are just some of how this population might endanger
human and environmental health.
The government provided steps by making and enforcing laws to rectify the situation.
It is the "Anti-Rabies Act of 2007" or R.A. 9482. However, the problem still pervades.
Thus, researchers at F. Rafols Road, Sta. Monica, Puerto Princesa City, looks into
the problem of stray dogs and the lack of local government organization (LGU)
enforcement of dog-pound rules. o achieve these aims, they use the quantitative
approach and collect information utilizing a questionnaire. The study's findings will
provide light on the vigor with which laws are being enforced in that region, making them
relevant to a wide range of fields.
The study found out that residents in F. Rafols Road, Sta. Monica has encountered
problems regarding stray dogs, such as feces, littering trash cans, aggression, and
infrastructure damage. Concerning the action taken by the LGU, the respondents
perceived that impounding activities, responsible ownership, leashing, and information
dissipation are inadequately being done. Testing the relationship between the two
variables shows significance. Hence, it is conclusive that the residents' problems affect
their perception of the action being undertaken by LGU concerning stray dogs.
Throughout the study, the researchers identified the following objectives:
1. Recognize the problems encountered by the residents in F. Rafols road, Sta
Monica, concerning stray dogs.
2. Identify the perceived action of LGU among residents concerning stray dogs.
3. Depict the significant relationship between problems encountered by the
residents and their perceived action of LGU concerning stray dogs in F.
Rafols road, Sta Monica.
With this in mind, it is recommended that future researchers expound on the content
of the study. They should look into the impact of RA 9482 or the "Anti Rabies Act of
2007" on the mortality of incidents regarding stray dogs. Moreover, they should
investigate the underlying factor in the city that may constitute the increasing number of
stray dogs.