Baguio to intensify implementation of Animal Welfare Act

Dog eaters beware!

Mayor Benjamin Magalong is ordering the intensified implementation of Republic Act 8485, otherwise known as the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, in the Summer Capital after reports that several local eateries are allegedly serving dog meat dishes to their customers.

He asked City Veterinary and Agriculture Office (CVAO) head Dr. Silardo Bested about the matter and disclosed that 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 that there is “definitely no slaughtering of dogs happening in the city” and claimed that the source of dog meat is from the lowlands.

He stressed that 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 that ‘buy-bust’ operations should be conducted on suspected establishments selling dog meat.

He disclosed that a restaurant along Marcos Highway was caught recently by personnel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and AKF for allegedly selling dog meat dishes to its customers.

“We will strengthen our monitoring and if proven that RA 8485 has been violated, we will file the appropriate cases and recommend closure of the erring establishments,” Bested assured the Mayor.

RA 8485, as amended by RA 10631, promotes and safeguards the welfare and wellbeing of animals and provides penalties for the violation of its provisions. – Gaby B. Keith