QC village changes ‘Oplan Dog-hang’ slogan but insists nothing wrong with the term

The barangay in Novaliches, Quezon City that drew flak from an animal welfare group and thousands of netizens for branding a pet control campaign as "Oplan Dog-hang" has decided to take down its rather controversial slogan.

On Wednesday, Barangay Capri Chairman Christian Cando said they have officially taken down the slogan and has since replaced it with "Oplan Iresponsableng Tagapag alaga ng Hayop" after the media reported on the outcry against "Oplan Dog-Hang" earlier in the month.

In a statement last week, the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) had condemned the original name of the campaign, saying the use of "Dog-hang" whether as a supposed allusion to "Tokhang" or to encourage violent acts against animals as means of control was "wrong."

The poster circulated on Facebook also bore the words "Wag nang manlaban, isuko na ang alagang hayop! Upang hindi na makapinsala at makadumi sa kapaligiran."

Despite the name change, Cando clarified they still believe there was nothing in the term their coined.

"Pinalitan natin para lang ma-pacify lang 'yung issue pero (hindi) ibig sabihin na (tinatanggap) nating mali 'yung salitang DOGHANG dahil 'yan ay derived sa initial positive concept ng TOKHANG which means 'Katok-pakiusap upang magbago'," he said.

Cando has insisted their campaign was always aimed to promote safety and responsible pet ownership, He said they will continue to encourage pet owners to surrender unruly pets to the pound.

"Tinanggal ko yung 'Huwag manlaban at isuko nalang 'yung hayop' pero patuloy nating dinidipensahan na ang ibig sabihin lang naman na kapag nag iimplement kami ng QC Ordinance against stray animals sa kalye o sa mga pampublikong lugar," he added.

Cando also appealed to the public not to be harsh or violent toward barangay tanods implementing the ordinance against stray animals.

"Huwag nilang sinasaktan o sinusuntok at minumura ang mga tanod lalo na pag nahuli na yung hayop o aso sa labas dahil nilalabag nila yung ordinansa, kaya 'wag nang manlaban at isuko at ayusin sa (barangay) kung may penalties man na iniimpose ukol (dito)," Cando said.

'To all dog lovers'

The post on the PAWS Facebook page condemning "Oplan Dog-Hang" has been shared almost 10,000 times and liked by more than 13,000 users as of Wendesday.

Among the swarm of comments was an apology from Barangay Capri kagawad Arnie Cando "to all dog lovers," saying officials concerned had no intention to harm any animals and that they, too, condemned cruelty against animals.

"We are very sorry for the misleading slogan we have posted as an action against the rising number of dog bite incidents in our community," he said.

As the Barangay chairman explained in the previous report, the Kagawad reiterated that "Dogs and cats surrendered to our office are first brought for adoption."

He added, "those who are not chosen are brought to the City Veterinary and let them take care of these poor little creatures in the best way we think they can." — MDM, GMA News