Cebu City Pet Registration Is Extended to July and September

Great news for pet owners in Cebu City! City veterinarian and head of the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF), Dr. Alice Utlang, announced on Facebook that the pet registration drive at Plaza Sugbu is being extended to July 15. (2025)

The outreach activity is expected to continue until sometime around September.

The recent pet registration campaign held at Cebu City Hall Plaza Sugbu last week was successful. 

In the coming days, all pet owners in Cebu City will be required to have their pets registered.

So, head to Plaza Sugbu, Cebu City from Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Keep yourself updated because there might be some changes to the time schedules. 

ABOUT THE PET REGISTRATION 

Cebu City faces rising rabies cases and an increasing number of stray animals. 

To protect them and the community, a city-wide pet registration initiative was created. Pet registration is grounded by three key governing laws: City Ordinance 2526, the Animal Welfare Act (RA 8485), and the Anti-Rabies Act (RA 9482). 

The legislation aims to promote responsible pet ownership, maintain public safety, protect animals, and ensure they live dignified lives.

DVMF launched the Pet Registration initiative to strengthen public compliance with City Ordinance 2526, which mandates that all pet owners register their pets annually. (2025)

More than compliance, this initiative aims to ensure that pets are easily tracked. As part of the campaign, the facilitators will educate citizens on how mandatory registration protects the community and upholds animal welfare.

The Cebu City Pet Registration drive was launched by the local government to boost its efforts in ensuring all pets are healthy and accounted for. 

When pets are registered, it’s easier to hold the owner accountable for animal bite cases or whatever happens to their pets.

However, the ongoing outreach activity has raised numerous questions in the public’s mind. Let’s tackle each of them. 

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Pet Registration in Cebu City costs Php 200 per pet per year.

WHAT ARE THE INCLUSIONS?

All registered pets will be given an official ID card, primarily to help owners track their pets’ vaccination status and for other purposes deemed necessary.

Enlistment also provides free access to the following essential veterinary services:

• Anti-rabies vaccination
• Deworming
• Spaying or neutering
• Pet health consultations

A new addition to the services offered was microchipping, which only costs Php 600. This optional service, reported in SunStar Cebu’s Facebook coverage, includes lifetime pet checkups and vaccinations at the DVMF office. (2025)

As of writing, the implanting of microchips to pets is still voluntary. But eventually, this might become mandatory to encourage active participation. 

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE CITIZENS DO NOT COMPLY?

Dr. Utlang cited provisions from the city ordinance and its governing statutes in her interview with CDN Digital. 

Non-compliance will result in a penalty of Php 2,000 per pet.

The penalties may be subject to amendments and vary depending on the degree of the offense. 

WHERE CAN YOU ENLIST YOUR PET?

Pet owners can visit the Cebu City Hall, DVMF, and Cebu City Pound offices. 

DVMF personnel may also conduct house-to-house visits and set up registration sites in barangays as scheduled. 

CAN NON-RESIDENTS OF CEBU CITY PARTICIPATE?

No. This program is exclusive to Cebu City residents only. 

ARE PETS REGISTERED FOR A LIFETIME?

As per city ordinance, pet registrations must be renewed annually. 

However, you can still check with your local barangay office and the DVMF for any updates regarding special inclusions (if any). 

BACK STORY

The pet registration campaign is key to ending the history of animal control malpractices. 

Uncontrolled breeding leads to a surge in neglected puppies and kittens, often left to fend for themselves on the streets. These strays face constant dangers: accidents, starvation, and severe health risks, including rabies—a direct threat to public safety.

Thus, the local government established the Cebu City Pound to shelter these homeless cats and dogs, primarily aiming to rehome them through adoption. While its purpose was a benevolent one, the facility faced a history of animal mishandling.

In the past, animal control authorities used tire wires to catch strays. This cruel method caused suffocation, bleeding, and lasting phobias in the animals, significantly reducing their chances of adoption. 

Moreover, “tambucho-killing” was once part of their animal population control methods. This inhumane process involves trapping animals in an airtight metal box and filling it with vehicle exhaust fumes to poison them. 

Fortunately, these cruel practices are now a thing of the past, as significant changes have been implemented.

It started in 2009 when Dr. Utlang and 71 other local veterinarians attended a training program by the Humane Society International. (2025)

During the program, they learned a more “humane” approach to controlling the population of unwanted pets. These approaches include spaying and neutering, euthanasia, and the Catch, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Return or Release (CNVR) method. 

CATCH, NEUTER, VACCINATE, AND RETURN OR RELEASE (CNVR)