A disturbing development has emerged in the aftermath of Typhoon Gaemi, one of the most devastating storms to hit Southeast Asia in recent times. The powerful typhoon devastated the Philippines in July, causing massive damage. The storm’s fury left thousands of people evacuated and dozens reported dead.
according to Metro, Amid this devastation, Ashley Friono, PETA Asia’s director of animal assistance programs, witnessed a horrifying sight: dogs were abandoned and kept either in cages or tied to lampposts outside their owners’ ruined homes. These creatures were abandoned and allowed to fend for themselves from the storm, despite the terrible conditions and the urgent need for evacuation.
“I will never forget seeing the rotting bodies of dogs in cages or chained to the ground with a look of horror on their faces. They had been given an almost unimaginably horrific death – one that was entirely preventable,” Ashley said. Metro.
The news portal further reported, citing a report by the Federation Cynologique Internationale, the worldwide kennel club registry, that animal abuse has long been a major concern for animal rights activists in the Philippines, which is home to about 23.29 million dogs. About 12,000,000 people own a dog. Yet there were at least 3,000 cases of animal abuse in 2020 alone, Philippine animal welfare non-profit, Compassion and Responsibility for Animals (CARA), found.
A resident of Marikina City, Philippines posted a video on Wednesday that shows a dog struggling to reach a safe area from the floodwaters caused by Super Typhoon Gaemi (CarinaPH).pic.twitter.com/fsUEE63JLh
— Volcanic ? (@volcaholic1) July 24, 2024
“Animal cruelty is a huge concern in the Philippines,” said Ashley, 38, who is from British Columbia, Canada, and has lived in the Philippines for 17 years.
“Although we have seen that local people are more aware of animal welfare concerns and have become more caring than they were a decade or so ago, thanks to the increased use of social media, the problem is still huge, particularly in poorer areas where it can be more difficult to keep dogs indoors due to crowded living conditions,” Ashley said.
