Zamora suspends, charges city vet for animal pound deaths during Carina, Habagat

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora on Wednesday has ordered the filing of a formal charge and suspension against the city veterinarian following the reported deaths in the animal pound during the onslaught of Tropical Cyclone Carina-enhanced Habagat or Southwest Monsoon last July.

“The CLD (City Legal Department)  subsequently recommended the filing of a formal charge with the grievance and disciplinary committee against the City Veterinarian which I have already approved,” said Zamora in a statement.

“I have placed him under preventive suspension to ensure that he will not be able to influence the investigation. Charged as well are 3 permanent employees. 1 job order employee was immediately terminated,” he added. 

To prevent future incidents, the San Juan City government said that it would relocate the animal pound to a safer location. 

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) earlier pointed out that “an unverified number of dogs and cats drowned in their cages during the onslaught of Typhoon Carina” at the San Juan City Animal Pound.

“There was no sign of any employee in the facility taking any action to free the animals nor of any one calling for help from ordinary citizens in the area to help save them. The animals were left behind like pieces of furniture,” PAWS said in a statement last July 28.

Metro Manila was placed under a state of calamity due to the massive flooding in several cities caused by the adverse weather. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News