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SECTION 1. Basic Policy and Objectives - Pursuant to Section 2 of Republic Act 8485 known as the "Animal Welfare Act of 1998" and in order to set forth the rules, regulations and processes for the registration and accreditation of kennels and other similar establishments, including their operations/administrations, the following are hereby promulgated for the information and guidance of all concerned.

The Basic Freedom of animals are the following as adopted by Committee on Animal Welfare and Animal Welfare Division:

- Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition;
- Freedom from physical discomfort and pain;
- Freedom from injury and disease;
- Freedom to conform to essential behavior patterns; and
- Freedom from fear and distress

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms -

2.1 Animal Welfare Division is a division of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), whose objective is to implement the animal welfare precepts in the Philippines.

2.2 Kennel refers to any facility, land premises, shed, barn, building, trailer, or other structure or area housing intended to house domestic dogs for breeding, maintaining, keeping, and training.  For regulation purposes, a kennel shall have 20 dogs or more at least 6 months of age and above.

2.2.1 Primary Enclosure refers to any structure or device used to restrict an animal to a limited amount of space, such as room, pen, run, cage, compartment, hutch (see Section 7)

2.2.2 Indoor Housing Facility refers to any structure or building with environmentally pleasant housing (space requirement is at least 3 times the size of the dog) or intended to house dogs.

2.2.3 Outdoor Housing Facility refers to any structure, building, land, or premises, housing or intended to house dogs in which temperature cannot be controlled within set limits.

2.2.4 Sheltered Housing Facility refers to a housing facility, which provides the animals with shelter, protection from the elements, and protection from temperature extremes at all times.  A sheltered housing facility may consist of runs or pens totally enclosed in a barn or building, or of connecting inside/outside runs or pens in a totally enclosed building.

2.2.5 Animal boarding kennels - commercial places at which food and accommodation are provided for temporary stay.

2.2.6. Whelping facility - is a facility where pregnant bitches are brought for parturition assistance. Should have a veterinarian to attend to the medical, obstetrical, gynecological and related needs.  In case of surgical intervention, this must be referred to a BAI registered surgical clinic or hospital.

2.3 Kennel Caregiver - the individual in charge of the kennel and the animals therein.

2.4 Animal Shelters/Dog pounds (City/Municipality/Province) - accommodation provided for and to maintain custody of discarded and unwanted pets, usually provided by animal welfare societies or Local Government Units (LGU).

2.5 Dog Training School - a facility for dog education and other similar function with special requirements such as obedience, protection and detection of specific substances.  The training of guide dog is included.

SECTION 3. Health Requirements and Husbandry Standards -

3.1 Vaccination, Deworming, and other health requirements should be in accordance to set standards upon the recommendation of a licensed veterinarian.

SECTION 4. Record Keeping

4.1 Breeding and other health records including other documents should be properly kept and available.

4.2 Animal identification may be a written description, or by the use of physical devices as microchip and electronically activated responders or transponder, or by marks made on the animal, prescribed by the national authority.

SECTION 5. Kennel Registration -

5.1 All Kennels as referred to in the definition shall be registered with the Bureau of Animal Industry.

SECTION 6. Primary Enclosure -

6.1 Primary enclosures for dogs should meet the following minimum requirements:

6.1.1 Primary enclosures must be designed and constructed of suitable materials so that they are structurally sound.  The primary enclosures must be kept in good repair.

6.1.2 Primary enclosures must be constructed and maintained so that it:

6.1.2.a) has no sharp points or edges that could injure the dogs;
6.1.2 b) protect the dogs from injury;
6.1.2 c) contain the dogs securely;
6.1.2 d) keep other animals from entering the enclosure;
6.1.2 e) enable the dogs to remain dry and clean;
6.1.2 f) provide shelter and protection from extreme temperatures and weather conditions that may be uncomfortable or hazardous to the dogs;
6.1.2 g) provide sufficient shade to shelter all the dogs housed in the pri- mary enclosure at one time;
6.1.2 h) provide all the dogs with easy and convenient access to clean food and water; enable all surfaces in contact with the dogs to be readily cleaned and sanitized, or be replaceable when worn out;
6.1.2 i) have floors that are constructed in a manner that protects the dogs feet and legs from injury, and that, if mesh or slatted construction, does not allow the dogs' feet to pass through any openings in the floor;
6.1.2 j) provide sufficient space to allow each dog to turn about freely, to stand, sit, and lie in a comfortable, normal position, and to walk in a normal manner.

6.2 Space

Each dog housed in a primary enclosure (including weaned puppies) must be provided a minimum amount of floor space, calculated as follows: Find the mathematical square of the sum of the length of the dog in inches (measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail) plus 6 inches; then divide the product by 144.  The calculation is: (length of dog in inches +6) x (length of dog in inches + 6) required floor space in square inches.  Required floor space in inches/144 = required floor space in square feet. Each bitch with nursing puppies must be provided with an additional amount of floor space, based on her breed and behavioral characteristics, and in accordance with generally accepted husbandry practices as determined by the attending veterinarian.  The interior height of a primary enclosure must be at least 6 inches higher than the head of the tallest dog in the enclosure when it is in a normal standing position on its four legs.

6.3 Compatibility:

All dogs housed in the same primary enclosure must be compatible, as determined by observation. Not more than 12 adult non-conditioned dogs may be housed in the same primary enclosure.  Bitches in heat may not be housed in the same primary enclosure with sexually mature males, except for breeding.  Except when maintained in breeding colonies, bitches with litters may not be housed in same primary enclosure with other adult dogs, and puppies under 4 months of age may not be housed in the same primary enclosure with adult dogs other than the dam or foster dam. Dogs with a vicious or aggressive disposition must be house separately.

6.4 Dogs in mobile or traveling shows or acts

Dogs that are part of a mobile or traveling show or act may be kept, while the show or act is traveling from one temporary location to another, in transport containers that comply with all the requirements.  When the show or act is traveling, the dogs must be placed in primary enclosures that meet the minimum requirements.

6.5 Prohibited means of primary enclosure

Permanent tethering of dogs is prohibited for use as permanent enclosure.

SECTION 7. Housing Facilities and Equipment

7.1 Kennels may be of different designs like kennel or house type, open or closed provided that the dogs are protected from the elements.

7.2 Space requirement - as stipulated in Section 6.

7.3 Mattings, materials to be used, fencing and enclosures should be appropriate.

7.4 Transport cages for training purposes must be comfortable to the dog.

7.5 Waste Management - must comply with local government requirements.

7.6 Ventilation - proper ventilation should be observed always

7.7 Maintenance - All surfaces must be maintained on a regular basis.  Surfaces of housing facilities-including houses, dens, and other furniture-type fixtures and objects within the facility-that cannot be readily cleaned and sanitized, must be replaced when worn or soiled.

7.8 Cleaning - Hard surfaces with which the dogs come in contact with must be spot-cleaned daily and sanitized to prevent accumulation of excreta and reduce disease hazards.  Floors made of dirt, absorbent bedding, sand, gravel, grass, or other similar material must be raked or spot-cleaned with sufficient frequency to ensure all animals the freedom to avoid contact with excreta.  Contaminated material must be replaced whenever this raking and spot-cleaning is not sufficient to prevent or eliminate odors, insects, pests, or vermin infestation.

7.9 Water and electric power - The housing facility must have reliable electric power adequate for heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting, and for carrying out other husbandry requirements.  The housing facility must provide adequate running potable water for the dogs' drinking needs, for cleaning, and for carrying out other husbandry requirements.

7.10 Storage - Supplies of food and bedding must be stored in a manner that protects the supplies from spoilage, contamination, and vermin infestation.  The supplies must be stored off the floor away from the walls, to allow cleaning underneath and around the supplies.  Foods requiring refrigeration must be stored accordingly, and all food must be stored in a manner that prevents contamination and deterioration of its nutritive value.  Substances that are toxic to the dogs but are required for normal husbandry practices must not be stored in food storage and preparation areas, but may be stored in cabinets in the animal areas.

7.11 Drainage and waste disposal - Kennel operators must provide for regular and frequent collection, removal, and disposal of animal and food wastes, bedding, debris, garbage, water, other fluids and wastes, including dead animals in a manner that minimizes contamination and disease risks.  Housing facilities must be equipped with disposal facilities and drainage systems that are constructed and operated so that animal waste and water are rapidly eliminated and animals stay dry.  Trash containers in housing facilities and in food storage and food preparation areas must be leak-proof and must have tightly fitted lids on them at all times.  Dead animals, animal parts, and animal waste must not be kept in food storage or food preparation areas, food freezers, food refrigerators, or animal areas.

7.12 Washrooms and sinks-

7.12.1 Washing facilities such as washrooms, basins, sinks, or showers must be provided and must be readily accessible.

7.12.2 Dogs that are housed in the same primary enclosure must be compatible, with the following restrictions:

7.12.2a. Females in heat (estrus) may not be housed in the same primary enclosure with males, except for breeding purposes;

7.12.2b Any dog exhibiting a vicious or overly aggressive disposition must be housed separately;

7.12.2c. Puppies 4 months of age or less may not be housed in the same primary enclosure with adult dogs other than their dams or foster dams, except when permanently maintained in breeding colonies;

7.12.2d Dogs may not be housed in the same primary enclosure with any other species of animals, unless they are compatible; and

7.12.2e. Dogs that have or are suspected of having a contagious disease must be isolated from healthy animals in the colony, as directed by the attending licensed and practicing veterinarian.  When an entire group or room of dogs is known to have or believed to be exposed to an infectious agent, the group may be kept intact during the process of diagnosis, treatment, and control.

7.12.2f. Exercise for dogs: Kennel operators must develop, document, and follow an appropriate plan to provide dogs with the opportunity for exercise.  The plan must be approved by the attending veterinarian.  The plan must include written standard procedures to be followed in providing the opportunity for exercise. In developing their plan, kennel owners should consider providing positive physical contact with humans that encourages exercise through play or other similar activities.  The opportunity for exercise may be provided in a number of ways such as: 1) Group housing in cages, pens, or runs that provide at least 100% of the required space for each dog if maintained separately under the minimum floor space requirement; 2) Maintaining individually housed dogs in cages, pens, or runs that provide at least twice the minimum floor space requirement; 3) Providing access to a run or open area at the frequency and duration prescribed by the attending veterinarian.  Forced exercise methods or devices such as swimming, treadmills, or carousel-type devices are unacceptable for meeting the exercise requirements.

7.12.2g Feeding: Dogs must be fed at least once each day, except as otherwise might be required to provide adequate veterinary care.  The food must be uncontaminated, wholesome, palatable, and of sufficient quantity and nutritive value to maintain the normal condition and weight of the animal.  The diet must be appropriate for the individual animal's age and condition.  Measures should be taken to ensure that there is no molding, deterioration, and caking of feed.

7.12.2h Watering: If potable water is not continually available to the dogs, it must be offered to the dogs as often as necessary to ensure their health and well-being, but not less than twice daily for at least 1 hour each time, unless restricted by the attending veterinarian.

SECTION 8. Penal Provisions - Violation of any of the provisions of this Rules and Regulations shall be penalized in accordance with the law.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause - In case any provision of this Rules and Regulations is declared contrary to law and/or unconstitutional, other provisions which are not affected thereby shall continue to be enforced and in effect.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause - All Administrative Orders, Rules and Regulations and other administrative issuance or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Regulation are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 11. Effectivity - This Regulation shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation or Official Gazette of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.

Adopted: 11 June 2004


(SGD.) LUIS P. LORENZO, JR.
Secretary