Dog meat traders arrested in Morong, Rizal

Authorities arrested two women for selling dog meat in Morong, Rizal, Nico Waje reported Sunday on 24 Oras Weekend.

The suspects told customers they were selling goat meat. It was also made into different dishes.

Animal welfare group Animal Kingdom Welfare (AKF) said they have been monitoring the dog meat trade in the area after receiving complaints from concerned citizens.

“Ang dami po kasing nagsusumbong sa amin diyan na mayroon nga po diyan na nagkakatay ng aso, nagbebenta, nagkakarne ng aso at ulam,” KF executive director Heidi Caguioa said.

(We have received a lot of reports that there is someone who butchers dogs, sells dog meat and dishes in the area.)

The slaughter of dogs for human consumption is illegal in the Philippines under the 1998 Animal Welfare Act.

The AKF said they engaged in several test buys to confirm the kind of meat being sold.

“Kung mapapansin mo doon sa mga pictures at video parang pinutol yung nguso kasi para hindi mahalata daw at ito ay aso at posible siguro gusto nila i-pass on ito as kambing,” Caguioa said.

(If you notice in the pictures and video, it seems that the dog’s snout was removed to make it less obvious what animal it was and to possibly pass it off as goat.)

Caguioa said aside from the two arrested women, there was also a man who selected and butchered the dogs.

She added that a total of three or four people from the same family were engaged in the dog meat trade.

Upon questioning, the suspects admitted to authorities they were engaged in the illegal practice of slaughtering dogs for their meat.

They will face charges for violating the Animal Welfare Act.—Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News