By Mae Singuay

An animal advocate group in Bacolod City urges the public to report “dog meat trading” in their respective barangays.

Ai-ai Gamboa, vice president of the Community Animal Rescue Efforts (CARE) Inc., said that they have received several complaints that dog meat trading is now rampant in the city.

Based on reports the group received, she said some individuals bought dogs in Bacolod, and slaughter them outside the city.

Dogs were sold at P50 per head, Gamboa claimed.

She urged everybody to report the illegal trade to barangay officials, police or to any animal advocate group.

“Just take photos or videos, so that they will have evidence that somebody is doing such criminal act,” Gamboa said.

She said the BACH Project PH offers rewards for those individuals who can report doing such illegal acts.

The CARE and other animal advocacy groups attended a meeting with Councilor Celia Flor yesterday in relation to their concern about dog and cat overpopulation in Bacolod.

The city government also scheduled a free spaying of dogs and cats with 400 slots to be accommodated on July 18.

Based on data from the City Veterinary Office, there were around 72,000 stray and owned dogs and cats in the city.

Likewise, Flor said she will author a resolution urging barangay officials and police stations to have an animal welfare desk in their offices to accommodate reports related to animal cruelty./MS, WDJ