Residents claim that stray dogs in their barangays are killed point-blank by the provincial veterinarian.
This article by Katie Rojas first appeared on MyPopePhilippines
Photo from Stand for Truth / GMA Public
Affairs and Shutterstock
Many
of us treat animals as members of our family, referring to ourselves as their
fur parents, fur grandparents, or fur siblings. Pet owners and animal lovers
treasure their fur babies so much because honestly, who wouldn’t melt at their
literal puppy dog eyes? This is why residents of Barangay Yook, Buenavista,
Marinduque, reacted negatively to a new execution order for stray dogs.
The
“dog execution order” was issued by the barangay officials to kill stray dogs.
In an interview with GMA News program Stand for Truth, an informant going by
the alias “Sandy” said that the first instance she saw this happen was when a
barangay kagawad said that there will be free vaccination for dogs in their
barangay.
“Dumating
po si kagawad, meron po siyang kasamang isang lalaki na ang sabi po nila
mag-inject po sila ng vaccine,” Sandy said. “Pagkatapos po noon, dumating po
‘yung doktor. Meron po siyang dalang baril. Ang buong akala po namin, ‘yung
vaccine, ‘yung pang-injection, ilalagay niya doon sa baril. So nagulat po kami
nung nakita po namin ‘yung aso na duguan na siya,” she added.
Dog
Execution Order
In
another barangay, Barangay Malbog to be exact, similar occurrences have
happened. However, the difference is some owners have actually volunteered for
their dog to be executed because they can no longer take care of them. (Read:
Philippine Coast Guard feeds stray animals amid Luzon quarantine)
One
of the residents who had his dogs killed was Jun. “‘Yung lola ko po, nag
confirm po siya na pumayag po siya na i-pabaril ‘yung apat kong aso. Pero hindi
ko po alam kasi sabi ko po sa kanya bago ‘ko umalis ng bahay, “Nay wag niyo
papatay ‘yung mga aso ko”,” he narrated.
Barangay
Malbog’s barangay chairman Restituto Pabalat said that they were doing this
because some dog owners have not been responsible in taking care of their pets,
and some have been run over by motorcycles. It is said that the provincial
veterinarian is the one shooting the dogs. (Read: ‘Adopt, Don’t Shop’ Like
These Four Celebrities and Their Shelter Pets)
The
Marinduque police are already investigating the incident.
Animal
Welfare Act
The
“dog execution order” is a clear violation of Republic Act 10631 or the Animal
Welfare Act of 1998. Section 6 of the law says “it shall be unlawful for any
person to torture any animal, to neglect to provide adequate care, sustenance
of shelter, or maltreat any animal or to subject any dog or horse to dogfights
or horsefights, kill or cause or procure to be tortured or deprived of adequate
care, sustenance or shelter, or maltreat or use the same in research or
experiments not expressly authorized by the Committee on Animal Welfare.”
In
addition, the law also states that killing of any animal other than cattle,
pigs, goats, sheep, poultry, rabbits, carabaos, and horses, is deemed unlawful.
Violators will be subject to imprisonment for at least one and a half years and
fined at least P30,000. Foreigners (aliens) who will be violating the said law
will be deported after serving his sentence.
