P50,000 reward up for Dasmariñas cat killers’ capture

MANILA, Philippines – The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) yesterday offered P50,000 as a reward for information that would lead to the identification and conviction of those who tortured and killed cats in Dasmariñas Village, Makati City.

“Animal abusers are a danger to everyone: They take their issues out on whomever is available to them, human or non-human, and must be caught before they act again. We’re appealing to anyone with information about those responsible for these cruel crimes to come forward now so that the perpetrator or perpetrators can be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Jason Baker, PETA Asia’s vice president for international operations.

The Dasmariñas Village Association Inc., in a circular issued on Jan. 25, expressed alarm over the deaths of at least 14 feral cats in the subdivision in a span of 12 days late last month.

According to the circular, which has gone viral over social media, three cats disappeared from the village’s park cattery – a shelter for homeless cats – and were later found dead.

Eight cats that were usually seen at the village’s Calumpang, Avocado and Paraiso streets also went missing and were later found dead.

Three more park cats were also found dead. None of the cats died from natural causes, said the circular.

One of the dead cats, said the circular, also bore signs of having been tortured – paint thinner was poured on the cat, which “died a slow and painful death from chemical burns.”

In addition to the dead cats, the circular also warned residents to be careful after an elderly domestic helper, who has fed neutered cats for the past 40 years, received a second handwritten threat.

The note, left on the retainer’s parked vehicle on Paraiso street on Jan. 18 read: “You stop feeding cats!! Our village is no cat sanctuary. Or else…”

According to PETA, the community cats in Dasmariñas Village have been spayed and neutered through the group’s trap-neuter-return program and are fed by residents of the village.

According to PETA, aggravated cruelty to animals carries a penalty of up to P250,000 and three years’ imprisonment under the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, as amended by Republic Act 10631.