Sadly, the dog meat trade continues to claim more poor dogs, specially homeless or stray ones, as victims. But animal welfare advocates and concerned government officials also continue to investigate reports of illegal sale and consumption of dog meat in the country, leading to the arrest of suspected dog meat sellers.
One such effort was the arrest of a man with three slaughter-bound dogs on October 25 after an operation by a team from the Animal Welfare Investigations Project (AWIP), in collaboration with the Baliwag City Police Station led by PLT Jason de Pedro. The three dogs were found restrained in separate sacks inside the suspect’s tricycle. One of the dogs was a pet of the family, according to the daughter of the suspect. The team also found out that the suspect had been detained prior to this incident for the same illegal act.
The three dogs were brought to the clinic of Biyaya, AWIP’s dog meat trade campaign partner. After check-up and treatment, they will be brought to Biyaya’s sanctuary in Alfonso, Cavite.
Jacob Lloyd, AWIP’s executive director, commended the operation’s success and said: “This rescue marks a significant advancement in the battle against the illicit dog meat trade. The concerted efforts of our team, partner and the Philippine National Police clearly demonstrate that such inhumanity is unacceptable.”
“The three female dogs who were rescued minutes from being butchered are now safe with us, and will be showered with love,” said Rina Ortiz, president of Biyaya Animal Care, a social entrepreneurship organization that operates a sanctuary for rescued dogs in Alfonso, Cavite.
The arrested man will be charged with violation of Republic Act 8485, or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, which punishes animal cruelty.
Dog meat trade (DMT) was more rampant and widespread in the 1990s, when live dogs were inhumanely muzzled and bound, then clandestinely transported from southern Luzon to the northern regions, particularly the Cordilleras. But recent reports from online group chats and fora suggest that DMT and the consumption of dog meat still take place in certain areas.
Just like every persistent problem, it must be tackled head on and the team of undercover investigators belonging to the AWIP, a UK based non-government organization, used open-source intelligence (OSINT) to produce actionable information.
These questions remain: Why does the dog meat trade persist? Why do these dog meat traders continue their illegal activity despite the risk of arrest?
The answer: There is still a demand for dog meat. With the supply now relatively limited, dog meat traders can charge dog meat eaters higher prices.
In the past, in Padre Garcia, Batangas, a dog meat trader paid men in tricycles P1,000 for 10 live dogs, or a measly P100 for a dog. The trader would fill a van with 80 to 100 dogs.
Today, in Bulacan and Nueva Ecija, the price for a live dog starts at a minimum of P100 per kilo, which is a big amount for an active dog seller. The average weight of an asong PInoy or aspin (usually a stray dog) is 6 to 10 kilos. At P100 per kilo, a dog is worth P600 to P1,000. This entices some men to catch and sell dogs for meat despite possible arrest and imprisonment due to violation of the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 which prohibits this.
The elimination of DMT requires a collaborative effort among national and local governments, the private sector, and NGOs. This is the reason the AWIP and Biyaya Animal Care have united with the shared goal of driving the DMT to the ground.
Know more about AWIP and send a message if you have information about the dog or cat meat trade in the country: https://awip.org.uk/successful-rescue-operation-against-philippine-dog-meat-trade/
About the author: Greg Salido Quimpo, a long-time animal welfare advocate, has extensive experience in intelligence gathering especially against the dog meat trade’s (DMT) clandestine activities. He partners with groups such as AWIP and Biyaya Animal Care in promoting awareness and prevention of cruelty to dogs and other domestic animals.
