Abandoned pets in Mayon’s danger zone given meals; farm animals evacuated

This photo taken on Jan. 27, 2018 shows farmer Jay Balindang tending to his carabao under heavy rain in a rice field at the foot of Mount Mayon in Guinobatan in Albay province. Balindang is among nearly 10,000 farmers who have been affected by the eruption of Mayon volcano that began earlier this month. (Photo by TED ALJIBE / AFP)

GUINOBATAN, Albay — Personnel of the Albay Provincial Veterinary Services – along with Philippine Animal Welfare Society, Humane Society International, and International Fund for Animal Welfare – fed abandoned pets within the declared danger zone around restive Mount Mayon on Sunday.

Dr. Florencio Adonay, provincial veterinarian, said they fed more than 400 dogs in at least two villages.

“”Most of the pets we have given palatable dog food mixed with can goods were very hungry and have lost weight,” he said.

According to him, dog feeding is part of Mayon disaster operations and will last for two weeks.

Aside from checking the welfare of pets, farm animals like the cows, carabao, and goats were also evacuated to safe places and given vitamins.

“We established pooling places for these animals to keep them from harm’s way,” he said.

He said if animals inhaled ash, the might catch pneumonia and might even die.

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