Shut down live animal markets, gov’t urged

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to spread, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) sent an urgent e-mail on Wednesday asking Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar to close live-animal meat markets, or “wet markets,” across the Philippines permanently, pointing out that markets crammed full of sick and stressed animals are breeding grounds for deadly diseases.

“It’s a matter of when—not if—the next pandemic will occur, as long as live-animal markets are permitted to continue endangering both humans and other animals,” said PETA Senior Vice President Jason Baker.

“PETA is urging the Philippines to take the next logical step and close these dangerous operations,” Baker said.