Group in Iloilo embarks on dog rescue and rehab
“This female dog, we named
Hope, was found dying by the sidewalk. The bystanders said that in the morning
of Sept. 18, this dog was found limping and salivating while entering a house
from where a carpenter tied a rope around her neck and pulled her outside after
she refused to promptly leave. While outside the gate, the dog rested but the
people continued to shoo her away. Finding it difficult to move her legs any
further, she laid down on the pavement. It was only 9 pm of the same day when
Ms. Bagaforo heard a crying dog and later found Hope's almost lifeless body in
feats of successive seizures. Ms. Bagaforo immediately wrapped the dog and gave
first aid measures.”
“Hope” was confined in one
veterinary hospital and received donations of dog food and medicines, but she
died yesterday.
This post is among the
many stories about stray dogs taken under the wing of Animal Welfare
Association-Iloilo, founded this year by Anna Marie Rivera-Wharton.
The group is taking the
challenge of ensuring the animals’ well-being through rescue, rehabilitation,
adoption and making violators of the Philippines’ animal welfare law
accountable.
Just recently, the group
has received a report from a television news anchor that she saw a dog being
beaten by a male employee of Andok’s Restaurant in Jaro, Iloilo City.
“He really beat the dog so
hard. Even if the dog was already running away, he chased after it. I wondered
where I could file the complaint. It’s a good thing that there is an AWA in
Iloilo now,” she said.
THE
LAW
Republic
Act No. 8485, an act to promote animal welfare in the Philippines, Section 6
states, “It shall be unlawful for any person to torture any animal, to neglect
to provide adequate care, sustenance or shelter, or maltreat any animals or to
subject any dog or horse to dogfights or horse fights, kill or cause or procure
to be tortured or deprived of adequate care sustenance or shelter, or maltreat
or use the same in research or experiments not expressly authorized by the
Committee on Animal welfare.”
Meanwhile,
Section 8 provides for the penalty of the violators. It states, “Any person who
violate, any of the provisions of this Act shall, upon conviction by final
judgment, be punished by imprisonment of not less than six months nor more than
two years or a fine of not less than P1,000 nor more than P5,000 or both at the
discretion of the court.”
SUSTAINABILITY
However,
AWA-Iloilo needs funds in order to sustain its operations.
So, they have lined up
fund-raising activities like a dinner buffet on October 16, 6:30 p.m. at Steps
of Rome, Plazuela de Iloilo and a garage sale of new and previously owned items
at the Regatta Hotel (formerly Residence Hotel), Gen. Luna Street on October 18
and 19.
They are also selling
AWA-Iloilo shirts for P230 each.
The group is also looking
for volunteers.
“No act is small.
Volunteer in any of these areas: Administrative, networking/marketing, rescue,
rehabilitation, foster, adoption and fundraising,” AWA-Iloilo posted.
Those
interested are invited to come to the volunteers’ orientation day on September
28, 2:30 p.m. at The Appetite, Gen. Luna Street.
DOG
POUND
Meanwhile,
Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog admitted that the City Veterinarian’s Office has
stopped catching stray dogs because their vehicle is not operational.
“We
will provide funds to buy a new service so they can get more stray dogs,” he
said.
He
also shared the city government’s plan to convert the old slaughterhouse in
North San Jose, Molo into a warehouse for their equipment as well as more stray
dogs because the motorpool is currently full.
"AWA will be working
hand and hand with them to alleviate the condition of our city shelter. Working
with them also in their educational campaign for responsible pet
ownership," AWA-Iloilo’s Facebook post said.*