Slaughterhouse-bound dogs rescued in Cavite

MANILA, Philippines – A total of 65 dogs were rescued and one died in Cavite when they were about to be taken to the slaughterhouse, local police and a conservationist group said on Wednesday, October 17.

The animals were discovered packed inside small makeshift cages in 4 tricycles and a van at the “collecting area” in Alfonso, Cavite on Tuesday evening, according to Cavite provincial police chief Sr. Supt. John Bulalacao.

Bulacao added that three suspects have been arrested and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9482 or Anti-Rabies Act and Republic Act 8485 or Animal Welfare Act.

If found guilty, they face a minium penalty of a P300,000 fine and one year in jail.

The dogs were retrieved in a joint operation with Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF), a welfare group affiliated to International Wildlife Coalition Trust-UK that rescues slaughter-bound dogs with the goal of putting an end to the dog meat trade still prevalent in northern Luzon.

AKF director for operations Luis Buenaflor said the dogs were found “cramped in small cages, distressed and weak and their snouts tied tight preventing them from breathing properly.”

They were about to be sent to a slaughterhouse in Pangasinan or La Union before the meat was to be sold in the Baguio markets.

The rescued dogs were brought to the AKF shelter in Capas, Tarlac where they will be rehabilitated, treated and fed until they would be ready for adoption.

Buenaflor explained that the modus operandi of the dog traders is usually to go around residential areas, posing as employees of the city pound, and try to buy them from from homeowners.

Other times they just pick up strays from the street. – Rappler.com