Dog trading, eating illegal, deadly, says Negros Occidental vet

A video posted on Facebook shows this man hauling dogs into a cage allegedly in Hinigaran, Negros Occidental. Facebook photo

BACOLOD CITY – Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena has warned the public that the trading and eating of dog meat is not only illegal but also deadly.

Decena issued the warning following the posting on Facebook by a concerned citizen of a video of dogs being hauled into a tricycle cage allegedly for slaughtering in Barangay Gargato, Hinigaran town, Negros Occidental province.

The brutal way in which dogs were dragged by the neck and hauled into the cage is a violation of the law on cruelty of animals, Decena said.

He also pointed out that because these dogs might not have been given anti-rabies shots since they appeared to be stray dogs.

Local government officials and the police should not allow such cruelty to animals, and the proliferation of the dog meat trade, he said.

Those caught engaging in such activity should be arrested, he added.

Hinigaran Mayor Nadie Arceo said he was not aware of the video and of the dog meat trade in his town but would look into the matter.

Decena said it is state policy that an area is considered high risk for rabies with even just one case.

He said 14 dogs have been found positive for rabies in Negros Occidental this year, the latest of which was a dog in Silay that bit nine persons in the Gaisano area this week.

Other areas with dogs confirmed to have rabies are Bacolod – 3, Cauayan – 3, Bago City – 2, Kabankalan City – 2, Ilog -1 , Candoni -1 and EB Magalona – 1.

Decena said his office was conducting a massive vaccination of dogs campaign, with 35 percent of the province already covered.

Their target was to vaccinate 70 percent of 170,000 dogs by June, he added, as he called on the cooperation of dog owners.

He said it was especially important to vaccinate dogs because there was a shortage of anti-rabies vaccines for humans.