50 stray animals, pets die in ‘mass poisoning’ in City of Naga, say pro-animal advocates

50 stray animals, pets die in ‘mass poisoning’ in City of Naga, say pro-animal advocates

CONCERNED citizens and pro-animal rights groups plan to file charges against several persons that were allegedly involved in the poisoning of around 50 dogs and cats inside a private subdivision in Barangay Inoburan, City of Naga, southern Cebu in January this year.

According to concerned pet owners, the alleged mass poisoning that occurred inside the Casa Mira South Subdivision in the City of Naga began last Jan. 1.

Therese Marie Vidal, an animal welfare advocate, said she received numerous complaints from pet owners living in the subdivision concerning the mass poisoning of stray dogs and cats.

Aside from complaining, some residents in the subdivision also posted videos of the poisoned stray dogs on social media, which have become viral.

Vidal told SunStar Cebu Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, that based on the complaints she received, they noticed that around five stray dogs began to die starting Jan. 1.

The pet owners became more suspicious as more stray dogs were found dead inside the subdivision, particularly in some houses that were not yet occupied.

“There was even a time that residents there would see 13 dead dogs a day inside the subdivision,” Vidal added.

Not just strays

But the pet owners living in the subdivision became more concerned after some of their pet dogs died as a result of the poison being spread to kill the stray dogs.

One netizen, identified only as Kayzie Zepeda, posted on Facebook that one of her neighbors had found the poisoned food used to kill the stray dogs.

Zepeda said she and her pet-owning neighbors have become alarmed as even their pets became victims in the mass poisoning.

According to Vidal, the alleged perpetrator, who is also a resident of the subdivision, reportedly used “Racumin,” a brand of poison that is often used to kill rats and mice.

The perpetrators reportedly soaked bread with the poison and fed them to the dogs.

Zepeda, a pet owner herself, said she is concerned for the safety of her pet dog and the stray dogs in their subdivision.

“I weep for the dogs (stray and pet) who were killed and murdered by this evil criminal, and I fear for the safety of my own dog and for other dogs in my neighborhood. I can’t imagine if this would happen to my Pepper,” Zepeda added.

Investigation

Following complaints from Zepeda and other residents, Vidal and other pro-animal welfare advocates from the Island Rescue Organization (IRO), Happy Tails Philippines and even personnel from the City of Naga Police Station visited the subdivision on Wednesday, Feb. 1, to investigate.

Annalyn Aizpuru, IRO president, told SunStar Cebu that when they visited the subdivision, they were told by one of the maintenance personnel that they already recovered the bodies of 50 stray dogs and cats that had been poisoned.

Aizpuru said they now have an idea who is behind the poisoning but they won’t divulge it as they are still preparing their evidence for the filing of charges.

Aside from filing charges against those involved in the poisoning, Aizpuru said they will also question why the subdivision management was allowed to impound stray dogs inside the village when only the local government unit has authority to conduct impounding.

In a separate intervew, Lt. Col. Junnel Caadlawon, chief of the City of Naga Police Station, told reporters that they are still gathering evidence to determine who was behind the mass poisoning of stray dogs and other pets in the subdivision.

Caadlowon, along with his personnel, accompanied representatives of IRO and other pro-animal welfare groups inside the subdivision to conduct an investigation on the incident.

Caadlawon said he has asked the management of the subdivision to provide CCTV footage to the police as it could help determine who initiated the mass poisoning.

Caadlawon also confirmed that they found dogs that had already decomposed during their ocular inspection of the subdivision on Wednesday.

He reminded the public that even if they don’t like stray animals roaming around their community, they should not take matters into their own hands.

Caadlawon urged them to call the local government unit so that they can impound stray animals.

Alarming

In a statement sent to SunStar Cebu on Thursday, Feb. 2, officials of the Casa Mira South Homeowners (CMS-HO) Association also condemned the recent incidents of dog poisoning in their subdivision, saying these are “alarming.”

“The CMS-HO does not and will never support nor condone inhumane methods to control the stray dog population in the community. Not only is this cruel and illegal, but this also puts the health and safety of the homeowners and their pets at risk,” the CMS-HO added.

They also reach out to members of their community to be “vigilant and patient” as they coordinate with the city government for the proper and legal handling and management of stray dogs. (JKV, ANV)

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