NGO in Special
Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United
Nations
The Philippines, October 2011
A personal report from Elly Maynard Chairperson and Founder, Sirius GAO
On the 14th October 2011 I left for the Philippines accompanied by Chris Taylor a NZ Police Dog Handler and one of our United Nations Representatives, Martin Earles a local Veterinarian, Michelle Horan a Veterinary Nurse, Pip Roberts my foster daughter, and a team from "60 Minutes" comprising reporter Paula Penfold, producer Eugene Bingham and cameraman Arthur Rasmunssen.
Our plan was to spend two nights at the Animal Kingdom Foundation Sanctuary at Capas Tulac as we were taking veterinary supplies for them. Part of this trip was to also visit the Malabon Zoo, Quezon City, Manila. I had been asked by Charles Wartenburg from the Animal Kingdom Foundation for assistance on this. However things did not work out as planned.
On Sunday 15th October while at Capas, we were advised that two police raids were planned, one against an illegal dog slaughter house and the other to intercept a truck load of dogs coming from the South to Baguio in the North. After we had split into two teams with the 60 Minutes crew heading with the AKF undercover agents to the illegal slaughter house in the North, the rest of us travelled South to a Police check point for the interception of the dog shipment. After spending all night sitting in a van we were advised at 5am that the shipment was not coming through and was still at Laguna, south of Manila. The 60 Minutes Team were advised by the Police that the raid on the illegal slaughter house was also cancelled.
We returned to Manila on Tuesday 18th October and at 4.00 pm that afternoon, Luis Buenaflor (the Operations Director for the Animal Kingdom) advised the 60 Minutes team that a raid was going to take place in Laguna that evening, approximately a 20 minute drive from Manila.
Luis and the 60 Minutes team travelled to Laguna and met a large contingent of police outside the slaughter house. It was by now quite late in the evening. The gates of the property were locked and, since the permit in the possession of the Police prevented them from entering, another permit was required.
The 60 Minutes team and Luis returned to Manila and at midnight were advised that the Police had found a Judge who had issued the necessary permit and the raid was on. They were also advised that there were approximately 50 live dogs in the facility.
The 60 Minutes team and Luis immediately returned and the rest of us followed shortly after.
On arrival, we found the AKF truck (used to carry live animals and with full veterinary services on board) already there and approximately 10 dogs in the truck, all receiving medical treatment and water. The temperature was approximately 30 degrees and very humid.
Walking down a very steep track towards where the other dogs were (this is abandoned land and hidden from the public), we found a deep pit with the rest of the dogs in it - 32 dogs crammed into a deep hole in the ground covered by a mesh grille.
One of the AKF workers was working quickly to secure a dog and cover its face with a towel. The dog's muzzel was wrapped with a wide dog lead and it was then picked up and handed to another worker on standby at the top of the pit. He immediately took the dog up the hill to the truck for medical treatment and water. It was a real production line and not a minute was left to spare.
Next to this was the slaughter area - a table covered by a canvas overhead tarpaulin.
The smell of death was indescribable.
The dogs in the pit were thoroughly traumatised as they would have heard the screams of the dogs being slaughtered.
Some had sad resignation in their eyes, others total fear, others were completely blank as if they had withdrew somewhere deep inside themselves.
It was the most horrendous situation anyone of us had ever seen and even shocked the Animal Kingdom people. The dogs were all huddled together in fear and were definitely a mixed lot. The trauma on the faces of these animals was obvious to all.
A fire was smoldering nearby where butchered dogs had been placed to burn their fur off.
One Fox Terrier, once in the truck, lay down in one of the large water containers and stayed there, too terrified to move.
One female was so traumatised and scared that when the handler picked her up to get her out of the pit, she urinated everywhere.
It was heartbreaking but at least they were now safe.
The dog trader and butcher was arrested by the Police and faces possible imprisonment and a fine. A new improved draft law is before the Senate now that will impose a 250,000 Pesos fine and 4 years in jail.
It was a good outcome as 47 dogs were rescued and taken back to Capas where they will certainly be well looked after. Our congratulations to the Animal Kingdom investigators who have been after this trader, one of the biggest in the area, for a long time.
Slideshow
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Click here for Elly's report on Malabon Zoo, Philippines
