CAVITE – A social media post about cat cannibalism in an animal pound in Barangay San Jose in Dasmariñas City, Cavite, has sparked animal rights concerns, drawing widespread attention from the public.
Cats in an animal pound in Barangay San Jose, Dasmariñas City (Photo posted on Save Animals of Love and Light's Facebook page/MANILA BULLETIN)
A post on the Save Animals of Love and Light (Save ALL) Facebook page shared an appeal by an animal rights advocate who reportedly witnessed a tragic scene in the animal pound.
“Three cats died inside the holding facility of Barangay San Jose, with two bodies eaten by other cats in the cage, reportedly due to hunger,” the post read.
Cats in an animal pound in Barangay San Jose, Dasmariñas City (Photo posted on Save Animals of Love and Light's Facebook page/MANILA BULLETIN)
“Animal rescuer and animal welfare advocate Yvette Mayo posted videos showing a cat eating the dead body of another cat, a skeleton of a cat, and cats who looked dazed and sick inside a dirty cage with two other dead cats last Sunday. She was asking for help from other animal welfare groups or shelters to save the cats who were still alive.”
Investigation by the city veterinarian
In a phone interview with the Manila Bulletin, city veterinarian Dr. Andrew Buencamino said the establishment of the animal pound in the barangay was not coordinated with their office.
Buencamino said they are already investigating the case, but he also noted that animal cannibalism could not directly be attributed to nutritional deficiency.
“Marami namang causes ang cannibalism. Although it’s abnormal, it’s quite common behavior sa kanila, 'yung under stress, territorial, 'yung temperamental, so maraming factors (There are many causes of cannibalism. Although it’s abnormal, it’s quite common behavior for them when under stress, territorial, or temperamental, so there are many factors),” Buencamino explained.
Animal pound in Barangay San Jose, Dasmariñas City (Photo from Dasmariñas City Veterinary Services' Facebook page/MANILA BULLETIN)
“Since 'yung mga nasa kalye, pinagsama-sama mo sa iisang kulungan, siyempre ang iba po diyan talagang mag-aaway, competition for food. And 'yung unang-una nilang inaatake eh 'yung mahihina ("Since those on the streets are put together in one cage, of course, some will really fight, competing for food. And the first ones they attack are the weak ones).”
The city veterinarian said that barangay officials claimed they provided enough food for the cats. However, he mentioned that a critical oversight was the absence of proper care and monitoring.
“Dapat po doon ay may nakabantay. Pangalawa, 'kung may insidente na may namatay at nag-away, dapat may nagtatanggal 'nung namatay (There should be someone watching over them. Secondly, if there is an incident where there has been a death or a fight, someone should remove the deceased).”
Buencamino emphasized that animal pound personnel must have proper training, and animals must be segregated based on gender, size, and temperament.
Barangay officials released the animals from the pound after the issue went viral on social media, but the City Veterinary Office was able to retrieve some of them. The office is now caring for the animals, which will be turned over to a shelter after vaccination, deworming, and rehabilitation.
Barangay officials' side
Barangay San Jose Kagawad Arnold Calinawan said they had nothing but good intentions behind the initiative to put up an impounding facility.
Over the past, the barangay has received multiple reports about stray animal bites and motorcycle accidents due to dogs and cats running on the streets.
Calinawan said that they assigned someone to look after the animals.
“Umalis 'yung bantay… Siguro two or three days po,” the kagawad told the Manila Bulletin.
Animal pound in Barangay San Jose, Dasmariñas City (Photo from Dasmariñas City Veterinary Services' Facebook page/MANILA BULLETIN)
Calinawan also shared that they have other suspicions regarding the cats' death.
“Nagtataka po kami kasi diba 'pag sakmal lamang nang ganun, magsasabugan agad ang dugo, wala namang bakas ng dugo eh. Kasi ito po, masukal na bukid. Ang hinala po namin baka dagang malaki o bayawak. Kasi sa pagkaka-imbestiga po namin, hindi po kakainin nang simot na simot kung pusa ang kakain (We are puzzled because, you see, if it were just a bite like that, blood would splatter immediately, but there was no trace of blood. This is an overgrown field. We suspect it might be a large rat or a monitor lizard. Because from our investigation, it wouldn’t be completely consumed if it were a cat eating),” Calinawan said.
The City Veterinary Services has directed the barangay to stop its animal pound operations and is in the process of completing its report and recommendations regarding the incident.