BACOLOD City – A P10,000 reward awaits each individual who could report to the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) any information on dog meat trading in this city.
Police Colonel Noel Aliño, acting director of BCPO, said yesterday, June 21, that informants could directly contact him.
“They can contact me through 09695737167 kung may kaalaman kayo sa dog meat trading. I’ll give P10,000 sa bawat informant,” Aliño said.
As of this writing, the city police director said he has yet to receive a formal complaint or any tip-off on the matter.
Maltreatment and slaughter of dogs for consumption are prohibited under Republic Act (RA) 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 and RA 9482 or the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007.
Further, RA 9296 or the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines, stated that animal meat, including dog meat, slaughtered in an unregistered establishment and which has not undergone the required inspection is considered “hot meat”, thus prohibited for consumption as it may carry diseases like rabies.
Earlier, the Community Animal Rescue Efforts (CARE), Inc. said it has been receiving complaints that dog meat trading is rampant in the city. Some were buying live dogs – allegedly at P50 per head – and disposing of them outside Bacolod already in meat form.
Ai-ai Gamboa, vice president of CARE, urged concerned citizens to take photos or videos to serve as evidence against those committing the criminal act.
The Bacolod Animal Chance and Hope Project Ph is offering a reward to those who would report, Gamboa also said.
The city has scheduled a free spaying drive on July 18, but only 400 dogs and cats could be accommodated.
There were about 72,000 stray and owned dogs and cats in the city, according to the City Veterinary Office./PN
