Island Rescue Organization gets 20 reports of animal abuse every day

Island Rescue Organization gets 20 reports of animal abuse every day

A LOCAL animal advocacy group Island Rescue Organization (IRO) has reported that it receives at least 20 reports of animal abuse every day from the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, and the province of Cebu.

The reports were mostly about hit-and-run incidents, torture, neglect and abandonment cases.

IRO president Annalyn Aizpuru shared this information during the Open Line News Media Forum held in Cebu City last week.

Aizpuru cited the recent case of mass poisoning of stray dogs and cats in a private subdivision in the City of Naga in southern Cebu, which IRO’s legal team is currently investigating.

IRO and its partner animal welfare advocacy group Happy Tails are planning to file a case against the culprits by the end of February.

IRO’s legal team leader, June Ediza, told SunStar Cebu that they are closely coordinating with the City of Naga Police Station to identify the offenders. Once identified, IRO plans to file criminal, environmental, civil and administrative cases against them.

Reminder

Aizpuru also reminded pet owners that stray dogs and cats that are often victims of abuse would not be roaming the streets if not for irresponsible pet owners.

During the same forum, Verna Agriam, the animal welfare officer of the Bureau of Animal Industry, praised the Mambaling Police Station for filing a complaint against 23-year-old Jason Fuentes for violating the Animal Welfare Act of 1998.

Fuentes was arrested last Sunday, Feb. 19, for dousing a chained dog with hot water in Barangay Mambaling.

The dog’s owner forgave him at the Mambaling Police Station after he apologized and promised to never hurt the dog again. Agriam and Aizpuru called on the public to look after the welfare of animals, emphasizing that animals have rights and deserve to be treated humanely. (Jenika Gi-An C. Nero, STC intern)

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