Rescue efforts on for starving Marawi pets

A dog eats the carcass of a cat on a street littered with rubbish where soldiers patrol, while military planes and helicopters continue the relentless bombing of Islamist militants hidden in other homes a kilometer (half a mile) away. AFP PHOTO

MARAWI CITY – Amid grim reports of starving abandoned pets and stray animals – particularly dogs – devouring cadavers and carcasses of other animals inside the war zone here, an animal group has embarked on an animal feeding project here.

Dr. Dahlia Molo- Valera, the Iligan City veterinarian, said the Animal Kingdom Foundation has partnered with her office for the conduct of an animal feeding activity.

Officials have been saying that starving animals have started devouring the cadavers of dead people littering the war zone here.

READ: Dusty teddy bear, scattered photos, abandoned pets depict Marawi ruin

The exact number of persons killed – civilians and Maute terrorists – since May 23 remained unclear although the military estimated there could be not fewer than 400.

Zia Alonto-Adiong, the spokesperson of the Lanao del Sur provincial crisis management committee, told the Inquirer that the reports about animals – particularly dogs – feasting on cadavers strewn in the city were made by survivors themselves.

“Yes, it has been happening. A lot of them saw how dogs devoured the cadavers lying on the streets,” Adiong said.

He said the reports were horrifying but there was no way to retrieve many of the cadavers as the fighting continued to this day.

Valera said the Animal Kingdom Foundation has sent them 35 packs of dog food for abandoned pets and strayed animals here.

Each pack weighs five kilograms, she said.

A few days ago, netizens and other animal-centered groups have started a campaign to raise fund or pool care package for abandoned pets and stray animals here.

Among them was the Save Animals of Love and Light (Save ALL).

A report quoted Desiree Carlos of Save ALL as saying they also borrowed food from their group’s animal shelters.

“We hope we can send more…relief goods do not include food for animals,” she was quoted as saying.

Valera said they have also suggested to authorities to let volunteers at the city veterinarian to round up stray animals and abandoned pets in Marawi.

“The problem is the military said there are still uncleared areas so they could not give us clearance to do that,” Valera told the Inquirer by phone.

She agreed that unless rounded up, animals would return to feed on cadavers again.

“I think we can really round them up if the crisis was already over,” Valera said.

Journalists covering the war here have also volunteered to help feed the animals in areas that had already been declared by the military to be clear of terrorists.