Magalong orders inspection of Baguio eateries over alleged serving of dog meat

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong has ordered the inspection of several local eateries due to the alleged serving of dog meat dishes to customers.

The mayor made the directive after authorities filed charges against a man for violation of the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 after he was caught butchering a dog in Barangay Irisan on May 30.

“We will not tolerate animal cruelty in Baguio City; the police will search and arrest violators of the Animal Welfare Act,” said Magalong in a statement on Thursday.

The charges stemmed from a video uploaded online that showed the suspect hitting the dog until it died.

Biyaya Animal Care earlier said that dog sacrificing is a common practice in the Cordillera region, but butchering a dog for a party is unacceptable.

Magalong recently said that the dog meat trade in the city has decreased significantly.

According to the law, anyone involved in animal cruelty could be imprisoned for up to two years and/or fined P100,000. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/VBL, GMA Integrated News