Retrieval of animal bodies from the fire site at Dalahican, Cavite City (Photo from Cavite City Veterinary Office's Facebook page/MANILA BULLETIN)
More than 40 pets died in a fire that ravaged houses and left over 1,000 families homeless in Barangays 5 and 7 in Badjao St., Dalahican, Cavite City, on Sunday, July 14.
In a phone interview with the Manila Bulletin on Friday, July 19, City Veterinarian Dr. Anna Teresa B. Baleda said they were able to retrieve 44 bodies of dogs, cats, chickens, and ducks from the fire site, which was a residential area on stilts along the coast.
“Ito po 'yung na-retrieve lang through land, pero kasi meron din sa water side. Hindi na po makuha dahil malayo tapos mababaw 'yung dagat kaya hindi makaya ng mga bangka (These were the ones retrieved through land, but there were also some on the water side. They can no longer be retrieved because it is far and the sea is shallow, so the boats come through),” Baleda said.
The fire started on the land side of the area, leaving residents and their pets trapped along the coast.
“Siyempre may mga anak, mga bata, may mga lola… Pero 'yun lang ang masaklap kasi baka masyadong mahigpit pala yung pagkakatali sa pets, hindi basta-basta matatanggal (Of course, there were children, kids, and elderly people... But the tragic part is that if the pets were tied too tightly, they couldn't be easily untied).”
Some of the animals who died in the fire were caged or leashed.
Residents saving their belongings and a pet dog from the fire in Cavite City on July 14 (Photo from Rep. Jolo Revilla/MANILA BULLETIN)
“'Yung pets, either isinama nila sa bangka o pinalangoy nila sa dagat para makapunta sa land (The pets were either taken with them on the boats or made to swim in the sea to reach the land),” the veterinarian said.
According to Baleda, dogs have an instinct to swim, but some may panic in distressing situations like a fire. The blaze might have caused liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanks to explode, adding to the chaos with loud noises and screams.
The local government unit (LGU) buried the retrieved animal bodies at the material recovery facility.
Call for donations for pets
Around 75 dogs and cats have been rescued from the fire and are now being kept in two evacuation centers in the city. the pets are either owned by evacuated families or have been adopted after the fire.
Animal Station at an evacuation center for fire victims in Cavite City (Photo courtesy of Christian Dela Cruz/MANILA BULLETIN)
The City Veterinary Office is providing assistance to rescued pets, including medical treatment, medicines, vitamins, leashes, cages, food, and food bowls.
A dog in an evacuation center in Cavite City (Photo courtesy of Christian Dela Cruz/MANILA BULLETIN)
Christian Dela Cruz, an animal advocate and owner of a pet supplies shop, organized a donation drive for the rescued pets. He also donated basic needs for the evacuated cats and dogs, including sacks of pet food.
“Ang siste lang, hindi sila sanay kumain ng dry dog food since nasanay sila sa table food na kanin at ulam (The only problem is that they are not used to eating dry dog food since they are accustomed to table food like rice and viands),” Dela Cruz told the Manila Bulletin.
A cat that survived the fire in Cavite City (Photo courtesy of Christian Dela Cruz/MANILA BULLETIN)
“Until now nag-iikot pa din kami sa area every morning to check 'yung mga naiiwan pa. We give them food and water, madaming aso ang ayaw umalis talaga at patuloy na nabalik sa area para bantayan ang bahay o pwesto nila (Until now, we still go around the area every morning to check on those left behind. We give them food and water. Many dogs really don't want to leave and continue to return to the area to guard their homes or spots),”
A pet owner tending to cats in an evacuation center in Cavite City (Photo from Rep. Jolo Revilla/MANILA BULLETIN)
Dela Cruz is receiving donations of wet food, food bowls, leashes, wound creams, quick heal sprays, multivitamins, antibiotics, and toys for cats and dogs.
The City Veterinarian, meanwhile, is set to administer anti-rabies vaccines and five-in-one immunizations to pets in evacuation centers in the coming days.