Happy Animals Club (HAC,) a privately-run animal rescue group and shelter in Davao City, is facing eviction from its current location due to a court order related to a land ownership dispute, which will lead to the eventual displacement of over 350 rescued animals—primarily dogs— that have suffered abuse, abandonment, illness, or neglect.
“We are in a desperate, mad rush to raise as much funding as possible, so we can evacuate and relocate to a new property by December 31, 2025,” the Happy Animals Club (HAC) team said in a Facebook post.
A long-running dispute
HAC’s eviction is the latest development in a multi-faceted conflict that dates back more than a year. In 2023, the local government ordered the shelter closed after residents filed complaints about noise, sanitation, and odor. HAC disputed these claims, saying they had complied with all necessary inspections.
“The complaint was about [the] smell, but there was none. We invited members of the public to come and testify, and they did,” says HAC founder Ken Amante. Supporters of HAC took to social media to help spread the word about the shelter’s predicament. However, the local authorities did not reverse the closure order; instead, they let HAC operate without a permit. “They did offer to build us a new shelter on property owned by the city,” explains Amante.
The relocation that never materialized
In interviews with local media, HAC representatives said the organization was left without a fallback plan as the dialogue with the government regarding the construction of a new, government-sponsored facility came to a halt, all while legal proceedings concerning the eviction from their current location progressed.
In a separate Facebook post, HAC emphasized that they had never demanded property from the local government and were simply following up on a verbal promise. “The City Administrator called us to a meeting. Then they offered the use of a government property. There were no demands from our side. It was a surprise offer from the City Government,” Amante explained.
The Davao City Administrator’s Office (CAO) clarified that the city intended to establish a city-owned animal shelter intended to serve the broader community, not an exclusive facility for HAC. “HAC representatives were invited to participate as advocates during preliminary discussions to provide their input and were encouraged to explore possible partnership discussions with the city once the shelter becomes operational,” added the CAO.
HAC refuted the statement, saying that if they were merely one of the beneficiaries, CAO should have invited other shelters as well. “Isn’t it odd to ask input for a proposed city-owned community animal shelter from the only organization that had their permit revoked by the government’s own Business Bureau just weeks ago, and still has the closure order in place?” says Amante.
With the local government allegedly reneging on their commitment, and with the eviction notice still in full swing, HAC is pressured to raise funds with the looming deadline.
What happens to the animal rescues?
The Davao CAO reassured the public that all the cats and dogs living in the HAC shelter will not be confiscated if HAC is evicted. “All animals currently housed in the facility will remain the property and responsibility of HAC,” they said.
At the moment, the HAC team is hard at work raising funds for a piece of titled land, fencing, flooring, drainage, a staff dorm, and electricity and water connections, among other items.
The team also put up all their rescues for ‘Fast Track’ adoption, which includes an online screening and a home visit. Those who are interested in adopting must be Davao City residents with gated homes for medium- and large-sized dogs and screened windows for cats.
HAC has already raised 2 million pesos but is still looking to raise 7 million more. They have a GoFundMe page and local alternatives. Follow their Facebook page for updates.
