Alleged dog meat seller arrested in Cagayan

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), with the help of the Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF), arrested a Cagayan carinderia owner who allegedly used dog meat in her dishes.

According to Nico Waje's report on "24 Oras Weekend," the AFK had received complaints about the owner, Bernadeth Guirolgico. It was alleged that they had been slaughtering three or more dogs per day.

“Ayon po doon sa ating informant ito raw pong tao na ito no, actually it’s a family. They have been butchering, or slaughtering dogs on a daily basis. Sabi niya sa amin, almost 10 years na nila itong ginagawa. Talagang livelihood na nila,” said Attorney Heidi Caguioa.

(According to our informant, this person, no actually it's a family. They have been butchering or slaughtering dogs on a daily basis. We were told that they had been doing this for almost 10 years. It's their livelihood.)

“May operation na talaga to because may mga ahente yang umiikot. Naghahanap ng aso in the neighborhood or in the next barangay or from other towns at yun po ay binebenta sa kanya,” Caguioa said.

(They're running an operation. They have people going around looking for dogs in the neighborhood or in the next barangay or from other towns. And they sell these to her.)

Each dog is being sold for P800 to P1,000, depending on the size.

However, even more alarming is that the selling and slaughtering of dogs in the area was seen as something normal.

“’Di lang ako meron pa diyan bakit ako lang ang inaano niyo,” said Quirolgico, who is now under the custody of the CIDG. She will be charged for violating the Animal Welfare Act.

(I'm not the only one. There's more over there. Why are you focused on me?) — Sherylin Untalan/DVM, GMA Integrated News