A pet owner has coordinated with the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) of Cebu City after cats and dogs died while on board a passenger vessel.

Earlier, a viral video showed of pets that died inside their cages while in transit.

Dr. Alice Utlang, Cebu City veterinarian, said that one of the pet owners coordinated with her on the incident.

Utlang said that the pet owner would have sent six cats and four dogs to Bohol.

Utlang advised first the pet owner to have the incident reported to the police in order to secure a record, or blotter, despite the shipper’s assurance it will pay cost of damages.

Further, Utlang advised the pet owner to raise the incident at the Animal Welfare Division of the Department of Agriculture for appropriate action.

After the investigation, DVMF said it will discuss the incident with the management of the shipping company to establish any liability in the handling of pets on board the vessel.

Utlang would want to determine whether the transport of pets was declared properly, as the pets should have been placed in a well-ventilated area.

“Even didto pa sa area of gigikanan, dili na isyuhan og shipping permit and veterinary health certificate kung walay klaro nga gibutangan. So kung na-declare na, unya wala matarong og dala, so pwede sya ma-file-lan gyud og kaso,” Utlang pointed out.

Based on the video, the pets could have died from heat stroke; 16 of which were dogs, while seven were cats.