THE People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Asia on Tuesday offered a reward of up to P50,000 for any information leading to the arrest of a suspected “serial cat killer” in the upscale Dasmariñas Village in Makati City.
“Peta is offering a reward up to P50,000 for information leading to the identification and conviction of those responsible for these cruel acts. It’s imperative that any community faced with a violent act such as the vicious killing of the community cats of Dasmariñas Village take measures to find the culprit or culprits and bring them to justice,” said Peta Asia Vice President for International Operations Jason Baker.
“Animal abusers are a danger to everyone: They take their issues out on whomever is available to them, human or non-human, and must be caught before they act again. We’re appealing to anyone with information about those responsible for these cruel crimes to come forward now so that the perpetrator or perpetrators can be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
The group said at least 12 community cats from Dasmariñas Village have gone missing, and some have been found dead, apparently from unnatural causes.
It added that the circular released by village management reports that one cat died slowly and painfully from chemical burns after paint thinner was poured over the said animal.
Aggravated cruelty to animals carries a penalty of up to P250,000 and three years im prison under the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 as amended by Republic Act No. 10631.
The group said anyone with information about the case is encouraged to call the Peta Asia hotline at (0999)888-7382.
Peta said the community cats in Dasmariñas Village have been spayed and neutered by the Compassion and Responsibility for Animals Philippines and and fed by village residents.
The village management and security are now looking into, what they described, as series of barbaric crimes, which began on January 13 but so far no suspects have been identified.
But Dasmarinas Village barangay chairman Martin John Pio Arenas denied the claim of serial cat killings and it was an old urban legend.
“There is no basis. Actually, six years ago, I was a barangay kagawad at that time, there was an alleged cat killer or killers, but no one ever proved that. We have a peaceful community here in Dasmarinas,” said Arenas.
He admitted, however, that one cat was poisoned about two weeks ago but there was no details on how the animal was poisoned.
“Up to now, no one can say how the cat was poisoned. It was a stray cat. That was the only case of a dead cat here in our barangay,” he said.
But the Village Homeowners Association posted a Jan. 25 circular on its website, saying: “During the past 12 days, there have been an alarming number of unexplained disappearances/deaths of cats within our village.”
The circular stated that “three cats from park cattery, three park cats, and eight dead and missing cats along the Calumpang, Avocado and Paraiso streets – some of these cats subsequently found dead. None of these cats died of natural causes. In the latest horrific instance, paint thinner was cruelly poured over the cat who died a slow and painful death from chemical burns.”
It further stated that an “elderly family retainer who kindly feeds and waters the neutered cats for the past 40 years received the second letter threat in his vehicle on January 18, 2016 in the Avocado-Paraiso area.”
The letter threat stated “You stop feedings cats. Our village is no cat sanctuary, or else!”
In January 2008, then Makati mayor Jejomar Binay ordered the police to investigate the gruesome slaughter of 29 kittens and cats in a posh, gated village.
The policemen were tasked to track down the cat killers, who peppered the furry creatures using air gun pellets.
On Dec.16, 2007, several cats were also reportedly shot with air guns. The 29 cats were inside two holding cages at the back of the DVA gym.
The felines, which were up for adoption, were under the care of the Compassion and Responsibility for Animals (Cara) Philippines, which is helping the DVA address the problem of stray cats in the subdivision.