San Juan City to investigate drownings of caged animals in pound after Typhoon Carina

The issue was brought to light after several social media users posted pictures and videos online showing an unverified number of impounded cats and dogs dead in their cages after the high floods that devastated the streets of Brgy. Batis last week.

"It is with profound regret and anger that we address the tragedy that transpired at our City Dog Pound during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Carina," the local government stated on its official Facebook page.

This comes after disturbing photos and videos circulated on social media. The city government also received "numerous complaints" of neglect of dogs and cats left behind during the super typhoon.

"We understand and share the outrage felt by our residents, animal rights groups, and citizens who have witnessed these appalling images," it said.

The city's legal department is now conducting a "swift, comprehensive, and transparent" investigation into the matter, with assurance that the local government "will not tolerate any attempts to obscure the truth or evade responsibility."

"We are committed to identifying those responsible for this gross dereliction of duty and ensuring they are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law," the statement read.

"We condemn these in the strongest possible terms. Our city's commitment to the humane treatment and protection of animals is unwavering, and we will take all necessary steps to prevent such tragedies from happening again," it concluded.

'Set them free'

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has also issued a statement on the "saddening and appalling" drownings, emphasizing that they are standing in solidarity with all outraged animal lovers who have seen the incident online.

"There was no sign of any employee in the facility taking any action to free the animals nor of any one calling for help from ordinary citizens in the area to help save them. The animals were left behind like pieces of furniture," PAWS stated.

The organization urged that pound personnel should have released the animals to give them at least a fighting chance to survive, citing their 2012 typhoon advisory, "set the animals free if you cannot save them from drowning or evacuate with them."

"An LGU pound should serve as a model of a humane animal facility in their area and must be compliant with the Animal Welfare Act. It is incumbent upon city officials to make sure that no impounded dog or cat suffers under their custody," they stressed.

PAWS advised city officials to reach out to private rescuers who have taken in the surviving animals and extend aid to them as well as ensure that this crime does not happen again.

"Impounded dogs already have the misfortune of being unwanted, homeless, and they should not be made to suffer in impounding facilities, much less left to die a slow painful death by drowning," they ended.

Sec. 7 of Republic Act No. 10631, or the Animal Welfare Act, states that it is "unlawful" for any person who has custody of an animal to abandon it.

"If any person being the owner or having charge or control of any animal shall without reasonable cause or excuse abandon it, whether permanently or not, without providing for the care of that animal, such act shall constitute maltreatment under Section 9," it said.

"If the animal is left in circumstances likely to cause the animal any unnecessary suffering, or if this abandonment results in the death of the animal, the person liable shall suffer the maximum penalty."

Super Typhoon Carina entered the Philippines Area of Responsibility on 24 July and was intensified by the southwest monsoon. Due to the floods and rainfall, several areas were declared under a state of calamity, including Metro Manila, Bataan, Bulacan, Batangas, Cavite, and more.