Animal welfare group eyes raps over dogs’ death

The dogs died of severe dehydration and heat stroke on their way to a dog show on Dec. 2. —PHOTO COURTESY OF PENNY CHAM

An animal welfare group has launched an investigation into the death of eight dogs inside a van while on their way to a dog show in Marikina City on Dec 2.

Lawyer Heidi Marquez Caguioa, program director of the Animal Kingdom Foundation Inc. (Akfi), said a parallel investigation is ongoing to determine the culpability of the driver and owners of the eight dogs (not 30 as earlier reported) that died.

Caguioa said the incident was reported to Akfi by a concerned citizen on Dec 5.

Akfi has yet to talk to Joey Mancilla, the van driver and the owner of the dogs, she said.

Caguioa said the 40 dogs owned by Mancilla — mostly Beagles, Chihuahuas and Whippets — were transported in a van without proper ventilation and airconditioning from Novaliches, Quezon City and arrived at PCCI around 10 a.m.

Some of the dogs were already unconscious when they arrived at the PCCI Activity Center, while the others died the next day at a nearby veterinary clinic, Caguioa said.

“We don’t know what happened or why he put all those dogs under that condition. He is nowhere to be found now,” Caguioa said.

Mancilla, she said, is a longtime breeder since the 1980s and have been a participant of various dog shows.

Mancilla could face charges for violation of the Animal Welfare Act, which is punishable with imprisonment for two years and one day, or a fine of P250,000, Caguioa said.

In a Dec. 6 letter, Philippine Canine Club Inc. (PCCI) president Augusto Benedicto Santos “categorically condemned” the death of the dogs due to dehydration and heat stroke while being transported to a dog show in Marikina City.

The PCCI hosts the Beagle Franciers Club dog show in Marikina City.

Caguioa said the PCCI can also be culpable of violating the law if proven to be negligent of the dogs’ wellbeing.

Caguioa is requesting all those who witnessed the incident to come forward and help Akfi in the investigation.

PCCI also suspended Mancilla and has vowed to start its own investigation into the matter.

The PCCI, named as the country’s premier registration body for pedigreed dogs, is a nonstock, nonprofit, service-oriented corporation established in 1963 for the purpose of promoting and encouraging the love for pure-bred dogs.

PCCI is a federal member of the FCI, an international organization of registering bodies based in Brussels, Belgium.