Group appeals for help to save 60 dogs in Bacolod from death by shooting

Animal advocates in Bacolod City are racing against time to save at least 60 abandoned and rescued dogs from death by shooting.

According to a report by Sandra Aguinaldo on State of the Nation with Jessica Soho, city pound officials will start neutralizing the dogs after three days if they are not adopted. 

The dogs are cramped in an enclosed area and barely have food to eat.  They were either rescued on the streets or abandoned by their owners to the city pound.

"Lahat sila, sobrang sad ng eyes, and well technically kawawa talaga kasi they're on death row. . . .Ito pala 'yung realidad na 'yung mga aso na sinu-surrender sa pound, pinapatay pala sila. because may national mandate ang mga pounds," Malou Perez, founder of the group PAWSsion, said.

The group is seeking help and mobilizing support and urging the public to adopt the dogs to give them a new lease on life.

Perez said that those who will adopt will just have to pay the P150 adoption fee.  However, the expenses do not end with adoption as the dogs need to  undergo tests and vaccination.

"Every dog, pag stray kasi siya and pag na-impound siya, there's already a probability na meron silang sakit. so para hindi macompromise 'yung state o 'yung mga healthy na dogs sa shelter, kailangan silang i-blood test, i-distemper test," Perez said.

PAWSsion was able to rescue 10 dogs from the city pound, but some of those who were left are sick.

Maple, for example, has tumor and needs chemotherapy sessions.

Perez said the resources of PAWSsion are limited and even if they wanted to, they could not take under their wings all 60 dogs.  Her group has sought out to the public for help.

"They can help us with the expenses, so they just shoulder the adoption fee which is 150, then the vetting ng dog, pa-check up siya then ipa-vaccine then ipa-deworm then kung ano man ang kailangang gamot. and then kahit support sa food nila sa shelter bago sila mapa-adopt," she said.

One of those who responded to the group's call is animal rights activist Jorella Valino, who sells plants to raise funds.

"We have to actively look for ways to help.  If wala pa kaying means to adopt a dog at this time, you just donate money so that the shelter can use that money to keep them happy and alive," Valino said.

Death by shooting

Department of Agriculture (DA) Department Order No. 09 authorizes shooting as one of the methods of euthanasia of animals.

The department order states that if the method of shooting will be used, only licensed firearms will be allowed to be used;  only sharpshooters and members of the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agency deputized by the Bureau of Animal Industry and authorized by the concerned local government unit will cary out the killing; and that it will be done away from the public view.

The department order also states that the preferred methos of euthanasia "shall always be the lethal injection."

Dr. Noverlee Calub, of the Bureau of Animal Industry's Animla Health and Welfare division, said shooting is the cheapest  method to kill an animal.

"Marami naman acceptable na methods of euthanasia at isa nga po ito 'yung gunshot 'yung pinakamura.  Yung pagka-conduct po ng mga ganitong activity ay talagang nakamandato po sa kanilang ordinansa," he said. —LDF, GMA News