14 dead in another Dasmariñas cat massacre

MORE than eight years after 29 cats and kittens being cared for by an animal welfare group at the exclusive Dasmariñas Village in Makati City were shot dead by a still unidentified person wielding an airgun, another cat massacre case has been reported in the same posh subdivision.

In a circular released last week, the Dasmariñas Village Association (DVA) informed its residents about the “alarming number” of cats which were found dead after being reported missing.

It said that a total of 14 cats—three from the animal shelter set up by the barangay and DVA, three strays living in the village park and eight others—have been found dead on Calumpang, Avocado and Paraiso Streets since Jan. 13.

“None of these cats died of natural causes. In the last horrific instance, paint thinner was cruelly poured over the cat who died a slow and painful death from chemical burns,” the DVA statement read.

It added that a resident feeding some of the cats in the village found a note on his car which read: “You stop feeding cats! Our village is no cat sanctuary. Or else….”

“[The] greater concern to Dasmariñas Village residents is the realization that we have in our midst—neighbors and/or household staff and/or service personnel—who are capable of such acts,” it said.

The incident has prompted the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Asia to offer a reward of P50,000 for any information on the perpetrators.

It warned that cruelty to animals carries a penalty of P250,000 and three years imprisonment under the Animal Welfare Act of 1998.

Some of the cats in the village—the shelter and park cats—are under the care of animal welfare group Compassion and Responsibility for Animals (CARA) Philippines which has been working with the DVA to provide a safe place for stray animals roaming around the subdivision.

Reached by the Inquirer, Barangay Dasmariñas chair Martin John Pio Arenas said they have yet to receive any information about the latest cat massacre case.

He added that the last report they got about a cat dying was two weeks ago when a park cat died allegedly due to poisoning.

Arenas said that most of the 6,600 residents were friendly to animals, some of them regularly feeding the stray cats while others were under the care of CARA which is looking for people to adopt them.

Makati City Information Officer Gilbert delos Reyes, meanwhile, said that the city’s Veterinary Services Office was now investigating the matter.