The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has urged the local government of Marikina to shut down a dog training center following the deaths of two poodles under its care.

The animal rights group said the facility lacks an animal welfare permit from the Bureau of Animal Industry–Animal Health and Welfare Division, which is required under the Animal Welfare Act of the Philippines.

In a Facebook post, the dogs' owners, Karla and Sandy Rios, demanded justice and questioned the trainer’s claim that heatstroke caused the deaths of their dogs. They pointed to injuries that, they said, suggest possible animal abuse.

They said their pets died on May 12 while under the facility’s care for potty training and basic tricks. However, they said the center's trainer only informed them of the incident on May 17.

Sandy, Donki's owner, said the trainer personally went to their house to inform them about the incident.

“When he got to my house, he explained to me and my husband that Donki has been dead since last Monday, May 12, along with one of my sister-in-law’s dogs whose name was Guanciale,” she said.

“He (trainer) claimed that both died from heatstroke. And that they buried them right away without even telling us—without our consent. My husband and I were both in shock upon hearing all of this,” she said, adding that the dogs were just put in a sack without a proper burial.

However, they remain unconvinced by the heatstroke claim after seeing photos showing the dogs with blood on their heads, with one dog missing its head.

“We took matters upon ourselves and found out that our dead dogs looked like they were killed and battered because photos of them showed blood on their heads. One of them didn’t even have a head anymore,” Sandy stated.

In a TV interview, PAWS Executive Director Anna Cabrera said they are already coordinating with the owner to file criminal charges against the training center.

“In view of all these and to safeguard the lives of other dogs which may still in the facility, we are requesting the immediate closure of the said facility and for your good office to direct the owner of the said facility to give the LGU a list of the owners of the dogs still under their care so that they can be contacted,” PAWS said in its letter to the local government.

It added that they can send a personnel to accompany police officers during the facility’s closure and serve as observers should any animals require medical assistance.