Eatery in Baguio caught serving dog meat; 7 kilos of dog meat seized

Baguio City, Philippines - Dogs are pets for some, but for others, their meat is good for food. This harsh reality was revealed when authorities raided an eatery in Barangay Kabayanihan, Baguio City, where dog meat was being served to the customers. 

According to the Regional News Group Luzon, seven kilograms of cooked and uncooked dog meat were discovered by the members of the Task Force Monitoring and Inspection Team of the city local government unit of Baguio when they inspected the food establishment recently. 

It was said that three dog heads were found in the freezer, while chopped dog meat was also found ready to be served to the customers. The other parts of the dogs were already served to customers.

The penalty for said illegal activity is revocation of business permit.

The owner, in her interview with the said media, admitted to the illegal activity, explaining that she did it because it was more profitable and that they have more customers when they serve dog meat.

“Alam ko na bawal, kaya lang walang magawa, kasi yon ang hinahanap ng customer. Mas mabenta talaga yong (karne ng aso) (kasi) pangpulutan,” she said. 

Legal consequences of killing, eating, or selling dog meat 

Even though more Filipinos are becoming aware of animal rights, crimes against dogs are still happening in some areas in the country. 

Under the Animal Welfare Act of 1998,  otherwise known as Republic Act No. 8485, it's illegal to kill dogs for food. The law was made to protect animals and make sure they are treated humanely. 

In addition, Republic Act No. 10631, which amends the Animal Welfare Act, strengthens penalties for people found guilty of abusing, selling, and eating dogs. As cited in RA 8485, violators can be jailed for up to two years and fined at least P30,000. The fine and prison time can be higher for repeat offenders or those involved in large-scale operations.