By CESAR JOLITO III

A pet owner is preparing to file charges against a neighbor who allegedly burned her dog, an act that animal welfare advocates say may constitute cruelty under Philippine law.

Pet owner JB Castillo said her family last saw their dog, Joker, a mixed breed, on April 18.

The dog was known to roam around the neighborhood and usually returned home but failed to do so that day, prompting them to search for him.

Castillo said she was shocked to discover Joker’s body on top of embers at a neighbor’s property.

The situation escalated further when the neighbor, identified only as alias “Romeo,” allegedly admitted to burning the dog.

Castillo recounted that when she asked her neighbor if he had seen the dog, he responded that the animal might have been the one he burned.

The neighbor, however, defended his actions, saying the dog was already dead and emitting a foul odor before he decided to burn the remains.

Castillo questioned this explanation, saying the circumstances surrounding Joker’s death remain unclear.

She added that proper protocol should have been followed, including informing the owner or ensuring the animal was given a proper burial.

Castillo’s family is now planning to have the dog’s remains examined to determine the cause of death.

Animal welfare group Community Animal Rescue Efforts, Inc. condemned the incident, saying that burning the dog, regardless of whether it was already dead, could still be considered an act of cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act.

Information officer Lowella Sanicas stressed that disposing of animals in such a manner is unacceptable, emphasizing that efforts should have been made to locate the owner or provide a proper and humane burial./CJ, WDJ