The “Pisamban Maragul” ( big church), a known landmark in front of the old city hall of Angeles City. (Jun A. Malig)
ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, Philippines — Three men from Lourdes Sur village here would be made to face criminal charges for slaughtering and cooking a dog as pulutan (snack or appetizer) for their drinking session, officials here said.
Mayor Carmelo Lazatin on Saturday ordered the filing of charges against the three men for violating Republic Act No. 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 that penalizes the maltreatment, killing, and consumption of dogs and other pets, according to Irish Calaguas, the mayor’s chief adviser, in an interview on Sunday.
The incident, which happened also on Saturday, occurred at a time when City Hall has been actively engaging residents in the campaign to protect the rights and welfare of animals.
Citing a village incident report, the city government identified the suspects as Amelito Henson, Amorsolo Guevarra, and Jerry Mari.
Calaguas, also an animal rights advocate, said Lazatin condemned the act and stressed that the culprits be made to answer for their act.
Violators of the Animal Welfare Act face from six months to two years imprisonment or a fine between P1,000 and P5,000, depending on the court’s discretion.
“It’s sickening to even imagine slaughtering and eating a dog, which is considered a man’s best friend. We condemned this act. We call all other dog lovers as well to join us in the campaign to uphold the rights of dogs, cats and all animals,” Calaguas said.
For the past few years now, the city government has been regularly conducting free antirabies vaccination of felines and canines in this city alongside free neutering and spaying activities, not only of pets but also of stray animals.
Refuge center
ADOPT A DOG The Angeles City government has an ongoing “Adopt, not Shop” campaign involving cats and dogs rescued by or surrendered to the city veterinary office, which documents such adoption by residents as shown in this photo taken on Nov. 11, 2022. —PHOTO FROM THE ANGELES CITY GOVERNMENT
The city veterinary office also has a continuing Adopt, Not Shop program where residents can adopt rescued cats and dogs upon filling out a form promising to do their best in taking care of the animals and allowing the veterinary office’s staff to visit their residence to check on the condition of their adopted pets.
Calaguas said this was the first incident of such a “primitive, barbaric and inhumane” incident against a dog that the city government has monitored since Lazatin became mayor in 2019.
“But we want to make sure that it’s also the last incident. We will double all efforts, if needed, to protect dogs and cats in Angeles City, even stray ones.”
Last month, the city veterinary office was able to catch 129 cats and dogs staying within the premises of 27 public schools in this city under its “trap-neuter/spay-release” program.
Since 2019, more than 3,000 cats and dogs have been neutered and spayed.
On Feb. 15 this year, the city government is set to open the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI)-certified Angeles City Dog and Cat Pound, a “no-kill” animal refuge center, to accommodate more rescued animals.
Calaguas said the city will also apply for accreditation from the BAI to enable the city veterinary office to monitor and have general supervision of backyard animal breeders.
City councilor Arvin Suller, a lawyer, has also filed before the city council the proposed “Angeles City Animal Welfare and Protection Code” to strengthen the law on the prohibition of sourcing, trading, slaughtering, and butchering of dogs and consumption of its meat.