A LOCAL animal advocacy group receives a minimum of 20 reports every day regarding hit and run, abuse, torture, neglect and abandonment involving animals.
Annalyn Aizpuru, president of the Island Rescue Organization (IRO), shared the information during the Open Line News Media Forum on Tuesday, February 21, 2023.
The reports come from the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu, as well as from Cebu Province.
She pointed out the recent case of mass poisoning of stray dogs and cats in a private subdivision in the City of Naga in southern Cebu, which the group’s legal team is now handling.
She said they plan to file a case against those responsible by the end of February.
"Inaasikaso na actually ng mga lawyers kung ano yung isasampa na kaso doon sa culprit, doon sa nag-utos, at doon sa nag-implement ng utos at kung sino man yung naglason talaga ng mga aso at pusa," Aizpuru told SunStar Cebu.
(Lawyers are taking care of what case to file against the culprit, against the one who gave the order, against the one who implemented the order and whoever actually poisoned the dogs and cats.)
However, the IRO's legal team leader June Ediza told SunStar that the culprits have yet to be identified.
"The investigation of the Naga police is ongoing. We, together with IRO and Happy Tails (another animal welfare advocacy group), are closely coordinating with the Naga police in as much as we will be assisting them [in] filing the criminal case later once the culprits are identified," Ediza said.
She said that aside from a criminal case, they are also preparing evidence and complaints to file environmental, civil and administrative cases against the offenders.
Aizpuru reminded fur parents that stray dogs and cats that are often victims of abuse would not be roaming the streets if not for irresponsible pet owners.
"Walang asong gala, walang pusang gala, kung walang taong pabaya (Without a careless person, there won’t be any stray dog or stray cat)," she said.
During the same forum, Verna Agriam, animal welfare officer of the Bureau of Animal Industry, praised the Mambaling Police Station for going through with the filing of a complaint against 23-year-old Jason Fuentes before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office for violating Republic Act 8485, or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998.
She also joined Aizpuru's call in urging the public to look after the welfare of animals.
"Basically, we don't have animal rights. We have animal welfare. Meaning lang gyud ana is, ayaw lang sila pasakiti (What that means is don’t hurt them). Period. Walay pain, walay suffering (There shouldn’t be any pain or suffering). Ingon-ana lang gyud tana siya ka-simple (It’s that simple)," she said.
Fuentes was arrested last Sunday, February 19, for dousing a chained dog with hot water in Barangay Mambaling last week.
The dog’s owner forgave him the next day after he apologized and promised never to hurt the dog again. (Jenika Gi-an C. Nero, STC intern)