Filipino Christians Sacrifice Dogs

Some Filipinos love dogs and some Filipinos eat dogs. We see this contradiction once more played out in the following two news stories. 

First up is a group of dogs who were rescued from a house fire. 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/6/dogs-rescued-from-house-fire-in-san-juan

Several dogs were rescued from a fire that hit a house in Barangay Sta. Lucia, San Juan City Friday morning, September 6.

According to the San Juan Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO), the blaze started at around 7:48 a.m. and was declared fire out at 8:57 a.m.

The Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF) said several dogs were rescued from the fire. However, four of them perished due to oxygen deprivation and smoke inhalation.

"Many of the dogs were already unconscious because of smoke inhalation but thank you to our dear volunteer firefighters for reviving them. All of the dogs survived except for four," the group said.

The AKF expressed its gratitude to the firefighters who responded to the incident, especially to Fire Chief Jerwin Guan and his wife, for making sure the animals were safe. The couple are both veterinarians.

Arson investigators are still determining the cause of the fire and total cost of damage to property.

Yes, some of the dogs were suffering from smoke inhalation and were revived by...mouth to mouth resuscitation? It seems that way. 

This fireman has his hands cupped around the dogs mouth as if he is blowing into it while the other firefighter has an oxygen mask ready. The dogs could have been left to die but they were not. Only four ended up dying.

The second story involves a group of dogs being caught on video as they were beaten to death. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/919610/slaughter-of-dogs-in-la-trinidad-benguet-caught-on-cam/story

A concerned citizen was able to take a video of several men involved in the alleged slaughter of dogs in La Trinidad, Benguet.

According to a report in “Saksi” on Friday, the dogs are being butchered for food or pulutan, which is a snack that is paired with alcoholic drinks. 

In the video, a dog was seen running with a man while on a leash. When it was brought to the slaughter area, the dog became restless and tried but failed to escape.

The said dog was also slaughtered, the report said. 

Also caught in the same video, men hitting an already injured dog. 

The incident was already reported to authorities.

It can be recalled that Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong had ordered last June the inspection of several local eateries that are allegedly serving dog meat dishes to customers.

According to the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, anyone involved in animal cruelty could be imprisoned for up to two years and/or fined P100,000.

In Benguet Province butchered dog is what you pair with your Red Horse. It's not enough to slit the dogs throat or kill the dog in a humane way. No. The dogs must be beaten to death because...the adrenaline rush makes the meat tastier?

Baguio City is also a city in Benguet Province where butchered dog is a local delicacy. In June 2024 the Mayor of Baguio City ordered an inspection into eateries that serve dog meat. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/909244/magalong-orders-inspection-of-baguio-eateries-over-alleged-serving-of-dog-meat/story/

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong has ordered the inspection of several local eateries due to the alleged serving of dog meat dishes to customers.

The mayor made the directive after authorities filed charges against a man for violation of the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 after he was caught butchering a dog in Barangay Irisan on May 30.

“We will not tolerate animal cruelty in Baguio City; the police will search and arrest violators of the Animal Welfare Act,” said Magalong in a statement on Thursday.

The charges stemmed from a video uploaded online that showed the suspect hitting the dog until it died.

Biyaya Animal Care earlier said that dog sacrificing is a common practice in the Cordillera region, but butchering a dog for a party is unacceptable.

Magalong recently said that the dog meat trade in the city has decreased significantly.

According to the law, anyone involved in animal cruelty could be imprisoned for up to two years and/or fined P100,000.

Wow! Sacrificing a dog is ok but butchering a dog for a party is not. It's the Igorots who sacrifice dogs as a cleansing ritual. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1052457

In the mountains of Cordillera, up in northern Philippines, the indigenous tribes of Igorots still practice the "Daw-es," an ancient ritual passed on from generation to generation, even in this age of the worldwide web.

Many of today's Igorots are also Christians. But unlike the rest of Christendom, they practice the Daw-es, not only in this season of all hallows and souls, but whenever someone died unexpectedly, or was murdered, or met an accident, especially in a massive scale like the Itogon landslide and just recently, the crumbling of the multi-story building that was still being constructed, ironically, for the country's state builders in Natonin town in Mountain Province.

About a week before Typhoon Rosita battered the Cordillera and sent the mountains' soil rolling down and engulfed some parts of the region with mud and rainwater on Tuesday afternoon of Oct. 30, the Daw-es ritual was done in Itogon town in Benguet.

The ritual was for another massive landslide induced by another typhoon (Ompong) that claimed the lives of at least 80 people, mostly small-scale miners and laborers in the mining town about a month and a half ago.

“It’s all about prayers to ask ‘Kabunyan’ (God) to cleanse the place of evil spirit, clear the people’s mind of the images of death and to thank God for the gift of life for those who were spared,” said Father Francisco Dao-ey, a native of Mountain Province, a retired priest of the Anglican church and who also facilitates the conduct of cultural practices like the Daw-es.

The ritual in Itogon was organized by the local government of Itogon town and the Department of the Interior and Local Government. It was done at Sitio Keystone, Ucab, where recovered bodies in the mid-September landslide were being identified by forensic experts.

The Daw-es is practiced by the Igorots in all parts of the Cordillera, with some variations, depending on the place. The primary purpose of the ritual is to "cleanse" the mind of the survivors, especially the rescuers, in case of massive death like in landslides or deluge.  

It is also done to rid a place of evil spirits that cause tragedies for those living.

Daw-es involves the butchering of a dog as offering to "Kabunyan," primarily to remove the images of death in the minds of those still living and to dispel evil spirits.

Pigs or chickens are also butchered and prayed over for everyone around to partake. This serves as the thanksgiving for the survivors' gift of life.

The “mambunong” (native priest), who facilitates the ritual, asks for Kabunyan’s guidance to free the minds of those "who handle the dead” of evil spirits, so they won't be hounded. It is also to pray for guidance to prevent the same disaster from happening in town.

Dao-ey said the cleansing ritual is done in various occasions and in different situations.

“It is done when somebody dies due to an extraordinary cause, when someone kills somebody, when a person is hospitalized, or after an incarceration of a person due to whatever reasons. It is a ritual that cleanses the mind of persons who handled dead bodies from seeing images of death, from having the same unfortunate incident, and to thank 'Kabunyan' for the gift of life for those spared,” he explained.

As for the Itogon tragedy, Dao-ey said he was asked by some Igorot firemen, who were directly involved in the search, rescue, and retrieval of bodies from the landslide area, as they were hounded by creepy thoughts.

“They kept on thinking and could not rid their minds of the images of the dead people,” he said.

Dao-ey said two chickens, aside from the pigs, were also served to the firemen.

“The ritual was done to rid their minds of the fear of the evil, fear of death,” he said.

The native priest said the Daw-es is usually done in groups, as a reminder that they are united in believing in such ritual as a cultural tradition.

The animal used in doing the cleansing ritual is a dog.

Michael “Pacsay” Tauli, a believer of the ritual, said the nature of the dog as a guardian is the primary reason for its use in the "cleansing" ritual.

“The dog’s bark shoos away the bad spirit. It bites, and it is a guardian. That is why it is used in the ritual,” he said.

Tauli believes that dogs are both guardians and harbingers of death. They are portrayed as such in different cultures, places, and era, he said.

Interesting that the Igorots are mostly Christian but practice dog sacrifice to ward off evil spirits and as an offering to God to remove trauma from the mind. There is NOTHING Christian about that whatsoever. But then again that's the contradiction of the Philippines.

Some Filipinos love dogs, some Filipinos eat dogs. Some Filipino Christians place their faith in the once for all sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, some Filipino Christians place their faith in the often sacrificed dog to ward off evil sprits. 

Dog Rice

A while back I bought some "Dog Rice" for my dogs.

I bought it because it was cheap. But that may not have been the best idea. I mix the rice with squash and pour dog food on top of it and the dogs eat it up but perhaps "dog rice" is not so hygienic. In fact, dog rice is being sold to the poor because regular rice prices have increased substantialy.

https://www-gmanetwork-com.translate.goog/news/balitambayan/talakayan/883956/bigas-na-para-pagkain-ng-aso-na-p30-k-binibili-na-rin-ng-mga-hikahos/story/?_x_tr_sl=tl&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp&_x_tr_hist=true

Due to the hardships of life and the expensive price of rice, the poor are now forced to pay for the rice that is sold at P30 per kilo with "dog food" written on it.

In Darlene Cay's special report, she met 53-year-old Mylene Canoy in Catmon, Malabon, who makes a living from charcoal.

According to Canoy, their income as a couple is not enough to feed their children, and they also have a grandchild.

In fact, even if he earns P50 a day, it is still not enough to buy a kilo of good quality rice. Sometimes, there are days when they don't eat three times a day.

To fill his stomach, he buys the cheapest rice he can find. Similar to Melba Sacayanan's store, which is P30 per kilo but considered dog food or food for animals.

Based on the records of the Philippine Statistics Authority, the year 2013 was the last time the price of regular milled rice reached P30 per. Today, the good variety of rice reaches P50 per kilo and above.

That is why the government issued an order last month to put a price ceiling of P41 per kilo for regular-milled rice and P45 per kilo for well-milled rice.

Compared to regular rice, the P30 per kilo "dog food" rice grain has a dark and yellowish color. Its grain is also crushed and there are also small black things that look like stones mixed in.

But for people like Canoy who have little income now, rice that is considered for animals can be theirs.

After Canoy bought cheap rice for a kilo and a half, he had nothing left to buy a dish. That's why he just borrowed a few pieces of tilapia.

According to Canoy, he washes the rice four times to get rid of the "smell."

As for senior citizen Lolita Mabborang who only relies on P5,000 pension per month, it is also difficult to find cheap rice for her husband and wife.

"The P41 [per kilo] is like us who can't buy a delicious dish, you can't even eat the color [that] because it's brown. The P45 [per kilo] is crushed," he commented.

"It's like the poor are poorer because you can't even eat what you buy, especially if you don't buy a delicious dish," he added.

According to Sacayanan who sells "dog food" rice, each kilo used to cost P33. It used to be that people only bought it for animals.

But now, it is hard for him to call such rice for dogs or for animals because it is insulting to people that they can only buy that.

As for Cathy Estavillo, spokesperson of Bantay Rice, it is said that it is sad that poor consumers are forced to buy this type of rice because the price of the good type of rice is already very high.

He said, the sold rice that is considered for animal use is rice that is old stock or flooded. The appearance is no longer pleasant, there are stones, and even insect excrement which is said to be proof that it is not for human consumption.

Aside from the steps taken by the government to lower the price of rice in the country, the Department of Agriculture will also investigate the rice that is sold as animal feed.

Canoy said the rice he bought smelled bad but I did not not notice a peculiar smell. However I did have to wash it several times to get rid of the chaff, stones, and other questionable particles which I hope were not insect excrement. When cooked it looked this:

It certainly does not look tempting or delicious. You can see it is peppered with black specks despite having been washed several times. The dogs had no issues with this rice. No one got sick or had irregular bowel movements. However I do not believe I will be buying this rice again. 

But it's not just "dog rice" which Filipinos are buying for their dogs or themselves. NFA rice is also being bought for dogs. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/03/07/1899398/nfa-slams-neda-exec-over-rice-dogs-quip

The National Food Authority has expressed disgust over the comment of a ranking official from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) that NFA rice is for dogs.

In a radio interview, NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon had said some people buy the cheap NFA rice for their dogs, saying that there is a “quality difference” and that some people buy NFA rice for other uses.

NFA officer-in-charge administrator Tomas Escarez said such remarks, coming from a ranking government official, is a slap to the more than 10 million poor Filipinos who have relied on the low-priced NFA rice for their daily meals.

“This is the highest form of arrogance, callousness and being matapobre,” Escarez said.

He added that the remark is also an insult to the more than 4,000 NFA employees nationwide who have been delivering the staple to marginalized consumers in far-flung areas, isolated island provinces and poor urban areas.

The video of Edillon’s remarks also gathered negative reactions from netizens, including NFA employees, retailers and ordinary citizens.

One netizen said Edillon was being insensitive and unprofessional, emphasizing that such comment should not even come from a public servant.

“We, retailers of NFA rice, do not sell food for dogs. There are about 200 to 500 people lining up every day for the cheap rice, do you call all of them dogs?” an NFA retailer said.

The backlash from NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon's comments are totally unwarranted. She did not call poor people dogs. She simply noted that some people are buying NFA rice to feed their dogs and for other uses. It is neither callous nor arrogant to point out this fact because it is true.

A few months after this remark was made someone on Reddit admitted that they feed their dogs NFA rice. 

https://www.reddit.com/r/phmoneysaving

• corn grits, mix it with NFA rice and dog food

So, while NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon was called out for being insensitive this person was feeding her dog NFA rice. And she is most certainly not alone.

In 2008 the NFA advised people to not buy NFA rice for their dogs, chickens, and other pets.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/99768/nfa-to-pet-owners-don-t-use-rice-as-pet-food/story/

The National Food Authority in Aklan has appealed to pet owners in the province not to use NFA rice as feed to their pets, the Philippine Information Agency reported Friday. "One of the (saving) tips suggested by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the NFA in the brochure for our Rice Conservation Program is for people to refrain from using rice or palay to feed their chickens, birds, and other pets", PIA quoted Judith Tindog of NFA-Aklan Information as saying. According to the PIA report, Tindog recently learned that a woman wanted to buy NFA rice for her pet dog. She told PIA: "I appealed to the pet owner to buy dog food instead. The NFA rice sold here in the province is for our poor provincemates who are experiencing hardships due to the price increase in commercial rice and other daily commodities, coupled with expenses due to the opening of classes." Tindog said the NFA-Aklan is only selling rice by the kilos and not by bags at 5 kilos per person at P18.25 per kilo. Malacanang has also appealed to the rich not to take advantage of NFA rice.

The fact is everyone is looking for ways to save money. One of the ways to save money is to buy cheap rice especially for your pets. But if you are going to feed your animals cheap rice I would not recommend buying "dog rice." Just buy cheap regular rice.

The Continuing Saga of Dog Killua

Last week I wrote about the reaction of politicians to the death of a dog named Killua. I noted that his death is merely the tip of a large iceberg of animal abuse in the Philippines. Now, the story continues. It turns out Killua tested positive for rabies. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1922680/slaughtered-dog-killua-tested-positive-for-rabies-says-paws

The slaughtered golden retriever in Camarines Sur tested positive for rabies, according to the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).

PAWS Director Anna Cabrera told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview on Monday that this was based on the test conducted by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) over the weekend.

However, Cabrera noted that several factors may affect the test result.

“While the result of the testing may not be accurate due to the fact that the body had already been buried for five days prior to testing and may have been contaminated from being in an area where many stray dogs have already been slaughtered, PAWS is making this announcement to ensure that any bites or scratches will be reported promptly in the interest of public health and safety,” Cabrera said in a statement.

Cabrera said they also immediately informed the owner, who is now considered at risk for the virus after hugging “the bloodied body of her beloved dog when she found him at a known dog slaughter area.”

The standard protocol for a suspected rabid animal is for it to “be observed for fourteen (14) days or, in case of highly suspected rabies cases, be humanely euthanized with no damage to the head,” according to the BAI’s Manual of Procedure for Rabies.

Cabrera also learned that Solares owned a carinderia, but she clarified to INQUIRER.net that it could not be determined if they were selling dog meat.

But she noted that “Solares owns a carinderia business which sells meat viands near the dog slaughter area.”

Arazas, as well as consumers of stray dogs in the area, should get post-exposure vaccines, said PAWS.

The results "may have been contaminated from being in an area where many stray dogs have already been slaughtered." In an interview with News5Everywhere Dr. Josen Sumeldan says this is impossible because the rabies virus needs a living host. 

But how would Killua contract rabies if, as the owner claims, Killua was an inside dog?

(Killua doesn’t even go outside, and it might have been stressed by the environment outside because it was used to staying inside the house.)

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/901013/dog-beaten-to-death-by-neighbor-in-camarines-sur/story/

Perhaps the owner is being less than truthful? In the same interview with Dr. Josen Sumeldan the owner claims the dog was not properly vaccinated as the vaccine was not administered by a veterinarian.

The ones who called for the vaccine like him, my brother was the only one who injected since they are also in the health field and they also have knowledge in injecting. Although it's really wrong to inject yourself because only licensed vets with data do that.

Cleary this lady has made some questionable decisions. What else is she not telling?

The other thing here is that the dog was killed "in an area where many stray dogs have already been slaughtered" for food. PAWS is not sure if Anthony Solares was selling dog meat but they are filing a case against him anyway. 

https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2024/03/25/272584/paws-file-case-killua-killer-dog-meat-trading/

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society or PAWS on Monday said that it is filing a criminal complaint against Anthony Solares, the man who ended Killua‘s life, for violating the law that prohibits people from engaging in the dog meat trade.

The non-profit organization on Monday confirmed that Solares brought the pet dog to a “known slaughterhouse and dog meat cooking area” after killing the animal who was found lifeless in a sack on March 17.

It added that he “owns a carinderia business which sells meat viands near the dog slaughter area.”

Killua was previously found lifeless in a sack by his owner, Vina Rachelle Arazas, after Solares led them to their pet following the incident.

Some internet users who saw the posts, including those claiming to live near Bato, Camarines Sur, claimed the suspect had darker intentions.

“In-anxiety ako [niyan] kahapon. Actually, it’s near my hometown. And they are known to kill dogs for them to cook and eat. [Sabi] din ng mga kakilala ko, kaya siya nasa sako kasi [kakatayin] na at [lulutuin] na. I deactived my FB [Facebook] because of that,” TikTok user @user81227158815 wrote before.

In a separate interview, Solares denied both sacking the dog and having intentions to cook it. He also said he did not intend to kill the animal, claiming he only did it to defend people from getting bitten by the dog.

Meanwhile, PAWS said it is filing a complaint against Solares for violating Republic Act 9482 or the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007, which prohibits trading dogs for meat.

It also called on those who may have consumed dog meat coming from the area where Killua’s body was found to get post-exposure shots.

“They are at great risk. Dog meat traders are not only cruel people but pose a serious threat to public health,” the org said.

So, people are aware there is a “known slaughterhouse and dog meat cooking area” and they say nothing until now? Or perhaps complaints were lodged and the barangay and the PNP simply did not care enough to investigate. It turns out that Anthony Solares is a barangay kagawad.

PAWS, along with the dog’s owner, Vina Rachelle Arazas, lodged a complaint against Kagawad Anthony Solares at the Provincial Prosecution Office of Camarines Sur.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1922833/paws-on-filing-case-against-killuas-killer

Rappler says Solares is merely a barangay tanod.

Last week, Killua’s case sparked outrage in social media, after it was reported that the golden retriever was allegedly killed by Solares, a barangay tanod.

https://www.rappler.com/philippines/killua-owner-sues-golden-retriever-killer/

Either way this story has taken a dark and disgusting turn and my original statement remains. The killing of dog Killua is the tip of an animal abuse iceberg in the Philippines. And it includes slaughtering dogs for food. 

The Killing of Dog Killua is The Tip of An Animal Abuse Iceberg

The recent killing of a beloved golden retriever has sparked outrage across the nation. A neighbor was caught on CCTV chasing the dog before he killed it. The video spread virally on social media even reaching the eyeballs of the inutile politicians who govern the Philippines. Their solution? More laws!!

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/03/21/2342174/killing-dog-killua-slammed

Animal welfare education should be mandated for elementary and high school students after the killing of Golden Retriever “Killua,” according to Sen. Grace Poe.

On March 17, Camarines Sur resident Anthony Solares killed the dog, claiming that Killua was aggressive.

The act was caught in a closed-circuit television footage posted on social media by Killua’s owner Vina Rachelle Arazas. Solares was seen hitting the dog as it ran around trying to escape.

The dog’s remains were later found in a sack.

“I am heartbroken and enraged to hear of the mauling of Killua, a golden retriever. Mr. Anthony Solares admitted to slaughtering Killua, claiming that the dog chased his child. However, his actions, which were captured in a CCTV video, were fraught with excessive violence and showed that it was Killua who was being chased,” Poe said in her privilege speech on Tuesday.

In Senate Bill 2458 that Poe filed, the “Revised Animal Welfare Act” shall include mandatory animal welfare education in the curriculum for primary and secondary education students.

“We hope to pass this bill soon and put an end to despicable incidents such as what happened to Killua,” she added.

Members of the House of Representatives condemned the killing of Killua, with lawmakers calling for amendments to the Animal Welfare Act of 1998.

“I think it would be the best time for us to revisit this law. The maximum penalty of imprisonment for the violation, for instance, on the killing of an animal is six months to one year of imprisonment, with the penalty or a fine of not exceeding P100,000,” said Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Raul Bongalon.

He also urged the Philippine Animal Welfare Society to raise awareness of laws against animal cruelty.

“What should be done? Perhaps we can empower our (local government units) in enforcing this law. It is because they are the ones at the grassroots level,” House Deputy Speaker David Suarez told legislative reporters at a briefing.

“I would understand maybe if he scared the dog. But to kill the animal already speaks of the motive, that there is really an intent to end the life of that animal. To me, it is tantamount to straight-up murder,” said Davao Oriental 2nd District Rep. Cheeno Almario.

It should not need to be said but, "Laws DO NOT prevent crime."

The fact is animal abuse happens all the time in the Philippines and no one cares. The only reason anyone care about Killua is because of the CCTV footage and the pictures of him celebrating his birthday in a tuxedo bib. For every Killua there are other unnamed animals who's death goes unchampioned.

Take for instance the abuse of a cats. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/901314/cat-found-shot-in-head-with-an-arrow-in-davao-city/story/

A cat was shot in the head with a bow and arrow in Davao City, according to the report of GMA News Regional TV One Mindanao on "State of the Nation" Thursday.

The cat was rescued and rushed to the veterinary clinic by a concerned citizen for an emergency operation.

The surgical procedure was complicated as the arrow hit the cat’s brain. The operation on the cat was eventually declared successful.

The person who shot the cat remains unidentified.

Meanwhile, a house cat was found allegedly bludgeoned to death at an alley in Naga City.

Based on statements from residents, there had already been multiple incidents of house cats being killed within the area.

Barangay officials are working on identifying the suspect behind the string of cases of animal cruelty.

In Davao someone shot an arrow into a cat's head. In Naga City a cat was found bludgeoned to death being one of a number of killed cats in the area.

In Cavite cats at the local pound had to resort to cannibalism.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/901107/cavite-pound-probed-over-cat-cannibalism/story/

A barangay-run animal pound in Dasmariñas, Cavite is under investigation for animal neglect after a video surfaced of cats eating the bodies of their fellow felines.

In a report by Darlene Cay in Unang Balita on Wednesday, a concerned resident made the grisly discovery after she went to the pound to help her friend find a pet cat.

(I became confused because it was the first time I saw something like that. I was very angry and upset. I ended up crying.)

Yvette suspected that the cats in the pound were not adequately fed, so they could do nothing but eat each other. Based on the video, some cats appeared weak, their water bowls were dirty and there was no food inside their cages either.

Yvette said they talked to the barangay chairman, who agreed to transfer the cats to a shelter, but he said she was shocked when the 20 cats were released the next day.

Still, the barangay captain maintains they did not abandon the cats and fed them twice daily.

(The truth is that I have two caretakers of the cats but we still can't watch them for 24 hours, so when they noticed the cats being fed they would end up fighting.)

The people at the cat pound suspected that three cats died because of fighting. They said the more aggressive ones ate the dead cats.

According to the veterinarian Dr. Ferds Recio, extreme hunger may be the reason for the cannibalistic behavior. He said that cats are natural hunters.

(It can be due to starvation since they don't have any food. It is also true that they will kill their fellow cats for them to eat. It doesn't mean that one hundred percent they have nothing to eat, so they will kill their partner. It is possible, but it is not one hundred percent sure.)

If it is proven that cats were neglected or abused, the barangay officials can be held responsible for violating the Animal Welfare Act.

There are also reports from time to time of tricycle drivers being apprehended for collecting dogs set to be slaughtered and eaten. The point here is that no law is going to stop animal abuse in the Philippines. Abuse happens because some people simply do not care about the well being of animals. 

This issue is not much different from the weekly slaughter of current and former political officials. Once in a while the violence is recognized at the national level and passionate speeches condemning the violence and calling for an investigation are made in Congress but for the most part it is an endemic problem about which no one cares. Stopping animal abuse in the Philippines will take a huge cultural shift and that is nowhere in the cards at this point. 

Innocent Dog Stabbed to Death in Case of Mistaken Identity

The Philippines' stray dog problem is a litany of preventable tragedies and outrageous actions. Here is another story from the streets that can be told "Only in the Philippines."

https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/12/korean-national-biten-by-stray-dog-arrested-for-killing-dog-in-manila

A Korean national who was bitten by a stray dog was arrested after he stabbed to death another dog in Malate, Manila, police said on Tuesday, March 12. 

The Manila Police District (MPD) identified the suspect as Jung Seong Ho, 42. He was arrested on Saturday, March 9. 

Prior to his arrest, the police said the Korean was bitten by a stray dog while walking around Remedios Street, Barangay 700 in Malate, at around 4:10 a.m. 

They said the suspect went inside a grill house in the area and asked for assistance in cleaning up the wound on his feet.

When he entered the grill house, he saw Ericka, a pet dog, sitting beside Angelo Bueno, the restaurant's waiter. 

Bueno and another waiter at the grill house immediately assisted the suspect and brought him inside the establishment's comfort room to wash his wound. 

However, after cleaning his wound, the police said the suspect took a knife from the kitchen and went outside where the other dogs started barking at him. 

Ericka, the pet dog, also went outside. When the suspect saw this, he cornered the dog and stabbed it four times with the kitchen knife, leading to the dog’s immediate death. 

After stabbing Ericka, police said the suspect also stabbed another stray dog before throwing the knife away and running back inside the restaurant's comfort room. 

A Korean who was walking around at 4 in the morning was bit on his foot by a stray dog. He ran into a grill house to ask for help cleaning his wound and saw another dog, Ericka, inside. He then took a knife from the kitchen and ran outside where the other stray dogs started barking at him. Ericka also ran outside prompting the Korean national to corner the dog and stab it four times.

But Ericka was not the dog which bit him. 

A statement from barangay personnel hints that if he had stabbed the dog who bit him there would have been no fault. 

Barangay personnel Anthony Rodejo said that the suspect stabbed the wrong dog.

“The Korean's fault is that he stabbed another dog, not the one that bit him,” he said. 

The suspect was arrested after personnel of the Remedios Police Community Precinct (PCP) passed by the area and responded to the incident. 

MPD Chief Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay said the suspect possibly got irritated which drove him to stab the dogs in the area. 

Ibay said that the suspect was given anti-rabies medication before he was brought to the police station. 

He is now under the custody of the MPD and  is facing charges for violation of the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 and malicious mischief.

Maybe Anthony Rodejo misspoke when he said  in saying "the Korean's fault is that he stabbed another dog, not the one that bit him." Maybe what he really means is that his fault is he stabbed a dog. Or perhaps it is legal to kill a dog who bit you? 

Likewise MPD Chief Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay's comment is equally asinine. Of course Jung Seong Ho was irritated. A stray dog bit him! How many times in the past was he forced to stave off stray dogs? Stray dogs are all over the place and they are not all friendly. 

Once more this is another tragedy that is easily preventable if the local government had the will to do so. Simply round up the stray dogs. It's that easy.  

Cebu City to Round up Stray Dogs for Sinulog

Stray dogs are a huge problem in the Philippines. It seems the problem is so out of hand that nothing can be done. However, that is not the case as shown by the City of Cebu.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/550542/stray-dogs-to-be-impounded-for-safety-during-fiesta-senor-sinulog-festival

Stray dogs in Cebu City are being impounded by the Cebu City Veterinary Department for safety of both dogs and attendees during the Fiesta Señor and Sinulog Festival 2024.

Doctor Jessica Maribojoc, the head of the Cebu City Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries, mentioned that dogs without owners and deemed as nuisances in the community will be removed, as the safety of both dogs and the community is crucial during the celebration of the Fiesta Señor and Sinulog Festival.

"On our part with the government, those that we took, based on the report or based on the request, are the ones to take and then I mentioned that it is possible that he (dog) is a stray. Whether it is in our ordinance that 12 meters away from the owners or there are no owners, we can get it," Maribojoc said in an interview on Frinday, January 12.

Cebu City is rounding up dogs for Sinulog in the name of safety. They say "the safety of both dogs and the community is crucial" during the upcoming celebration. But what about the rest of the year? Is not the safety of dogs and the community crucial al year round? Why does the city allow these dogs to roam?

Even though the city is rounding up dogs for some of them it will be far from safe. 

Dogs that are impounded and not claimed within two weeks may be considered for euthanasia if they become sick.

For context, euthanasia is the practice of ending the life of a patient to alleviate their suffering.

However, dogs that remain unclaimed in the pound for more than two weeks but remain healthy have a “possibility” of becoming candidates for adoption.

Two weeks and then death for some of these dogs. Sad but at least it shows the problem of stray dogs can be dealt with. In fact it is the city's duty to take care of this problem.

Maribojoc said this is a request from several barangays and also their duty as an indirect part of the Sinulog cluster.

Less stray dogs means less garbage all over the place, less rabies cases, less bites, and a safer community. Why wait until a festival and allow the problem to compound exponentially?

This story proves the Philippine government has the power to make the nation safe. What it lacks is the will to do so. 

Sleeping Dog Run Over by Armored Vehicle

A dog sleeping in the street was run over by an armored vehicle and the animal rescue organization Purpaws decided to write about it from the perspective of the dog. Let's take a look. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1722083/pet-rescue-organization-says-armored-car-hit-killed-sleeping-dog-in-gensan

An organization rescuing distressed pets and animals said that an armored car is now being tracked down for running over a sleeping dog in front of a house in General Santos City and speeding away as if nothing happened.

In a post from People United to Rescue Pets that are Abused, Wasted, and Sick (Purpaws) on Thursday, it was stated that Doggo, a dog that people from Barangay Lagao were familiar with as it usually hangs out at a local fast food chain, died after being run over by an armored car with body number 3285.

The dog hangs out at a local fast food chain? What is he the Fonz?  Hanging out? More like begging for scraps! It's not The Max and he ain't Zack Morris. He is Doggo which is a generic name you give a dog you don't care about. 

Purpaws said the dog was lying in front of its owner’s house when the incident happened.  The owner ran after the armored car, but the driver involved did not mind, instead managed to escape.

Great googly moogly!  The dog was LYING IN FRONT OF ITS OWNER'S HOUSE rather than  inside the house or the gate at least? Why did his owner allow the dog to sleep in the street?

“I was just lying on the ground having my nap at around 9:00 am in front of our humble store when an armored car number 3285 colored beige casually ran over me […] If I was a person lying on that same spot where I was, do you think the driver of the armored car with body number 3285 kill me? Just because I was a dog, the driver mercilessly killed me,” Purpaws, speaking on behalf of Doggo, said.

Maybe if you were a person lying in the middle of the street then yeah perhaps the armored vehicle would have run over you. How the heck was this dog lying in front of his owner's store and still got run over UNLESS the store is right on the road? That is another huge danger in the Philippines. Many stores and houses are right on the road and as a result have been plowed into and destroyed by wayward vehicles. 

“My owner saw what happened and he ran after the armored car but they did not even apologize. Then I was put in a sack and someone saw the opportunity to get my body and turn me into a meal. Someone from PURPAWS saw this and she didn’t waste time to check what happened to me. When she saw my lifeless body she immediately took me from the person who wanted me for a meal and warned him,” the group added.

Like Superman appearing at the slightest hint of trouble someone from PURPAWS saw the whole thing and prevented a would-be gourmand from feasting on this fine specimen of dog.  Think of the scene! The dog gets hit and the owner runs after the vehicle. The dog is then stuffed into a sack and some passerby attempts to steal the bag so he can cook up a tasty meal but he is stopped by a representative pf PURPAWS who just happened to be in the vicinity. 

According to the group, Doggo was bought to a nearby veterinary clinic for autopsy, where the veterinarian said the cause of death is blunt force trauma.

Oh really? The dog died from blunt force trauma?? NO KIDDING!!! Did they have to cut the dog open and give a proper autopsy to render that verdict?  

“After my necropsy I was brought to a tranquil place where I was given a decent burial.   My owner was assisted by the organization to file a blotter report to the Traffic Enforcement Unit. TEU forwarded the complaint to the Land Transportation Office for the record,” Purpaws said.

“The organization is now hunting the armored car with body number 3285 in beige color.  Will you help them? So that I get justice for my death…I was only taking my morning nap, why? What have I done to you people?” it added.

Hit-and-run incidents involving pet animals like dogs are not rare in the country: just this December 2022, singer and former youth commissioner Ice Seguerra was devastated after learning that his pet was killed in a hit-and-run incident.

Yeah no kidding hit-and-run incidents involving dogs are not rare in the Philippines! Neither are dog bites or death from rabid dog bites. That is because the Philippines has a massive stray dog problem. Now, this dog was not a stray and that presents us with a whole other problem which is that too many owners let their dogs out to roam the streets all day and night. It's not enough that they open the gate so they can go do their business but they are hanging out at their favorite restaurants and then being forced to sleep outside IN THE STREET. Sometimes the dog is never allowed in but lives its life in the street as if it were a stray. 

It's not surprising this dog got killed and it would not be surprising if the driver did not see a sleeping dog curled up in the street. The bottom line is dog owners are as much to blame as drivers when it comes to  their dogs being killed by vehicles. 

Dog Owner Neglects 101 Dogs at Private Shelter

A dog's life is tough in the Philippines. Owners will let you run about all day which sometimes results in you getting struck by a vehicle. Sometimes a crazy owner will harm one of your brethren. In this case the crazy owner corralled 101 dogs at her house as a private shelter and instead of taking care of them she  abandoned them to die. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1776545/sick-abandoned-dogs-in-cebu-city-face-death

At least 77 abandoned dogs in this city may have to be euthanized due to their deteriorating health condition.

Dr. Jessica Maribojoc, the Cebu City veterinarian, said these dogs were among the 101 canines the Cebu City government rescued from an abandoned animal shelter in the mountain village of Adlaon two weeks ago after their owner left them sometime in February this year.

Of the 101 dogs, 16 had died while eight others were healthy and were qualified for adoption.

“I hope people will understand that we have to lessen the agony of these dogs. They came from a very stressful environment and now they are in this kind of situation that is very taxing,” Maribojoc told the Inquirer on Monday.

She said the rescued dogs were very weak and sickly since they had not eaten for probably a month.

“In fact, some of them killed other dogs just to survive,” Maribojoc said.

This is a very tragic situation right here. A single owner was running a private animal shelter with 101 dogs! How was this allowed to happen? How does one acquire 101 dogs? Clearly she had no money to feed them or to keep them healthy. And then she cruelly walks away leaving them to their fate.  

Based on the information they gathered, she said the rescued dogs were fed by the shelter’s caretaker for three months using personal money even without any salary.

However, she said the caretaker eventually left the dogs. Since they were already very weak and sick, the remaining dogs have to be euthanized.

Maribojoc, however, assured the public that the sick dogs will be euthanized in a rapid, painless and stress-free death.

Instead of exposing the animals to carbon monoxide, she said they would adopt a system where the dogs will simply be put to sleep.

Maribojoc said the city government had postponed the euthanasia of these dogs several times, hoping that some people would come over to adopt some of the dogs.

“I appeal to dog lovers who have enough space at home to visit the Cebu City dog pound to possibly adopt some of these dogs,” she said.

Maribojoc reminded those who wanted to rescue animals and put them at home to coordinate with the Cebu City government. Those who have more than 10 dogs must inform the city government and have their pets listed at the Bureau of Animal Industry, she added.

Republic Act No. 9482 or the Anti-Rabies Act states that if a dog is captured, the city pound has the authority to fine the owner or to euthanize the dog if they are not claimed within the holding period, which is usually within one day to a week from capture.

Surely the community knew of this private shelter with 101 dogs.  You can't hide that kind of smell or sound. 

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), a registered nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of humane treatment of all animals, said euthanizing unclaimed animals in a pound after the holding period remains legal in the country.

The group, on its website, however, stressed that the government must employ humane methods when catching and performing euthanasia on animals.

The most humane way to euthanize an animal, it said, is through barbiturates, a kind of depressant or sedative drug. Other methods, such as gassing or electrocution, are inhumane and illegal, PAWS said.

Gassing was formerly used to kill dogs by connecting the hose from a vehicle’s exhaust pipe and revving the engine continuously for 10 to 15 minutes, emitting poisonous fumes and sending the dogs to death.

“We have very little influence on what happens in city pounds, but PAWS will take action if there is evidence of inhumane methods or acts of animal cruelty taking place in an animal pound,” it said.

Running a hose from a car to a room filled with dogs seems rather cartoonish and ridiculous. Would they be using a government vehicle? A private vehicle? Maybe they will call a taxi? 

Of course breathing in toxic fumes and slowly drifting away is less violent than being shot in the head which is what happens sometimes in Philippine animal shelters. 

https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3095186/animal-shelters-full-millions-stray-dogs-and-cats-roam-philippines-one

Vet and clinic founder Maricelle Licuanan, 41, says some strays in the Philippines were born on the streets, while others are abandoned family pets.

“Once these animals become an inconvenience to the owners, they are neglected or tossed onto the streets. Most of them are intact [unsterilised] so they mate with other strays and more unwanted animals are born. Sadly, it’s a never-ending cycle,” says Licuanan, whose clinic desexed more than 60,000 animals between March 2017 and July 18, 2020. 

Malou Perez, 30, is the founder of Pawssion Project, a Filipino dog rescue charity, and she believes letting animals die on the streets or shooting them dead in pounds is far more cruel than having them desexed in a painless operation.

“Based on the Animal Welfare Act of the Philippines, it is legal for city pounds to euthanise unclaimed dogs by gunshot,” she says. “The government authorises this because using a firearm is cheaper than using other procedures. 

“When I went to the pound in 2018 to rescue dogs that were about to be executed, I saw how horrible the situation was,” she adds. “I was standing right next to a hole where the dogs were to be buried. It was very traumatising. I remember fiddling with my phone to distract myself from the dogs whimpering out of desperation and anguish. I had to go into the cells to calm them down. It was awful.”

Indeed death by gunshot is one of the few legal and acceptable means by which an animal is allowed to be euthanized in the Philippines.

https://paws.org.ph/downloads/AO%209%20and%20%20AO%2013%20Euthanasia%20of%20Animals.pdf

While only a licensed veterinarian is allowed to euthanize an animal when it comes to the gunshot method a person skilled in firearm usage must pull the trigger. 

6.3 Physical Methods

6.3. a Firearms (gunshot)

Firearms may likewise be used in euthanasia of specific animals. Shooting however, should only be performed by highly skilled personnel trained in the use of firearms such as those who are members of the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other law enforcement agencies. Only licensed and authorized firearms shall be used in the euthanasia of animals.

The following must be considered when firearms are used in euthanasia:

1. 6.3.a.a  Firearms shall be with no less than 22 caliber using non expansive bullets provided that the animal is pursued until death.

2. 6.3.a.b  The person using the firearm should aim or target the brain for the quick and immediate death of the animal. This should be done under the supervision of a duly licensed veterinarian.

"Provided that the animal is pursued until death?" One clean shot should be all that is needed. But dogs shouldn't be shot or mistreated. However this is the Philippines where life of any kind is cheap.