70 Dogs rescued in La Union, Philippines

[Guest guest]

70 DOGS RESCUED IN LA UNION

by Artemio Dumlao (Philippine Star)

 

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines—Seventy dogs from Batangas City loaded in

cramped bamboo cages aboard a jeep enroute to a slaughterhouse here

were rescued early yesterday morning along a checkpoint at Naguillan

town, La Union.

Policemen led by SPO4 Jesus Fabros and SPO2 Julio Patacsil, along

with operatives of the London-based Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF)

intercepted the jeep, with license plate VAY-696 at around 1:30AM in

front of the Naguillan town hall. Three men were nabbed by the

operatives: Ramon Manalo Cena, Raffy Perez Beco and Teodorico Beco.

Brando Gegway, AKF investigator for Northern Luzon, said the trio,

all from San Roque, Rosario town, in Batangas, bring dogs twice a

week to an illegal slaughterhouse in San Carlos Heights, reportedly

owned by a certain Jane Cabiles.

Gegway bared that AKF veterinarian Winston Samaniego, who figured in

a lot of dog rescue operations from dog smugglers, lately spotted

the dog shipment in Aringay town, also in La Union, prompting him to

report to the police who immediately positioned themselves at the

checkpoint in Naguillan.

Aringay is approximately 35 kilometers from Naguillan town. Gegway

said all the dogs were brought to the Manila City dog pound for an

adoption project.

 

MORE RAIDS

After the successful raid by authorities and the AKF at a

slaughterhouse in Iloilo three weeks ago, similar raids against

illegal dog slaughterhouses in Baguio City are in the offing.

Gegway said Baguio slaughterhouses will be busted by authorities

armed with search and seizure warrants.

Baguio, well acknowledged as the center of dog meat trade in

Northern Luzon, harbors at least three illegal dog slaughterhouses,

which supply dog meat to restaurants here.

Gegway who had coordinated with the Criminal Investigation and

Detection Group (CIDG) of the PNP in the past four successful

operations against the slaughter, sale, and trading of dog meat said

that they are eyeing even those selling dog meat in the city markets

here although the country's Animal Welfare Law does not penalize

selling dog meat.

AKF director Charles Wartenberg said that while the group is working

to amend the law and impose higher penalty to violators, they will

always run against dog traders in any place in the Philippines.

For the past two months, at least a hundred dogs had already been

rescued from dog traders from the lowlands who tried to smuggle into

Baguio slaughterhouses and restaurants serving dog meat as dishes.

[Guest guest]

I hope that there will be more good news like this that show responsibility

and care toward animals.