Mayor Benjamin Magalong has ordered the intensified implementation of the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, after reports that several local eateries are allegedly serving dog meat dishes to customers.
He asked City Veterinary and Agriculture Office head Silardo Bested about the matter and disclosed the Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF), a non-profit animal welfare non-government organization, is appealing to the city government to help stop the illegal trade.
Bested informed the mayor there is no slaughtering of dogs happening in the city and claimed the source of dog meat is from the lowlands.
He stressed there is no open selling of dog meat in the public market or even in restaurants.
“However, there are a few restaurants that secretly offer dog meat to selected customers who like eating dog meat. We are constantly monitoring this,” Bested said.
He added “buy-bust” operations should be conducted on suspected establishments selling dog meat.
He said a restaurant along Marcos Highway was caught recently by personnel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and AKF for selling dog meat dishes to its customers.
“We will strengthen our monitoring and if proven that Republic Act 8485 has been violated, we will file cases and recommend closure of erring establishments,” Bested assured the mayor. The Animal Welfare Act promotes and safeguards the welfare and wellbeing of animals and provides penalties for the violation of its provisions. – Gaby B. Keith
