Poe wants accountability in San Juan City pound incident

Police and animal rights advocate Animal Kingdom Foundation rescued these four dogs from an illegal dog meat trade in San Marcelino, Zambales. (Photo courtesy of AKF)

MANILA – Senator Grace Poe said Wednesday she is waiting for the outcome of the San Juan City government’s action against their personnel responsible for the drowning of animals in the city pound during the onslaught of Typhoon Carina.

In a statement, Poe said government-funded animal shelters should be a haven for animals and not “death traps.”

“They should be lifesavers of abandoned animals that may have chances of getting rehomed and cared for,” she said.

Poe recently filed Senate Bill 2458 to strengthen the Animal Welfare Act by creating a Barangay Animal Welfare Task Force to help local officers address welfare issues, such as during calamities.

“As the novelist Milan Kundera said, humanity’s true moral test consists of its attitude toward those who are at its mercy: animals,” she added.

In an earlier statement, Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito urged the San Juan City government to hold all responsible parties accountable for the incident and implement measures to prevent it from happening again.

“There is such a thing as command responsibility. The absence of any attempt to rescue these animals is inexcusable and points to a significant failure in emergency preparedness and response,” Ejercito said.

“It is incumbent upon the leaders and personnel of our local government units to ensure the safety and well-being of animals in their custody.”

San Juan City’s legal department is already investigating the incident and assured that employees and officers of the city government who will be proven to have not fulfilled their mandate will be held accountable. (PNA)