Updated Aug. 2008
AKFI seizes butchered dogs in Baguio raid
By: Nixon A. Canlapan

CRUELTY TO ANIMAL -- The raiding team places the burned dogs’ carcasses in sacks.

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Sponsors and Supporters Dine for the Dogs! (10.22.07)

Although no wagging tails and barking were seen and heard last October 19, 2007 in a gathering inspired by AKF’s rescued dogs, the atmosphere during the luncheon party organized by AKF for its valued sponsors and supporters was very much lively and, yes, inspiring.

AKF’s Management Head, Suzanne Llanera headed the local staff while introducing to the guests --- the Chairman of International Wildlife Coalition Trust (IWCT-UK) John Hawkridge and AKF President and Founder Charles Wartenberg. Both came from the United Kingdom to personally thank the sponsors and supporters of AKF. Ms. Llanera further laid out to the passionate personalities representing their organizations and companies the future plans of the foundation in terms of rescuing slaughter-bound dogs. The top officers of the government agencies from the Bureau of Animal Industry, National Meat Inspection Section of the Department of Agriculture and the private companies of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Oxford Suites, Pet One together with a number of passionate donors also received updates of the present operations and programs of the foundation.

It was a luncheon get-together of dog lovers. A very well attended affair and AKF, with the unwavering support of these agencies and companies, hope to continue this inspiring gathering and build a tradition that collects individuals and companies in an event where the future of the Philippine dogs, without the wagging and barking, are the main subjects and concern.

To our sponsors, donors and supporters wet licks and more!

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Mad Dogs and Englishmen

Capas, Tarlac - The Animal Kingdom Foundation Inc. (AKF)., a local affiliate of the London-based International Wildlife Coalition Trust and Pet One Dog Food Company recently launched the Philippine version of Pet Adoptathon 2007 in the AKF Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, Barangay Cub-Cub Municipality of Capas,Tarlac.

PET ADOPTATHON 2007 is a worldwide event first organized in 1995 by the North Shore Animal League America in the US and has since then placed 250,000 pets into loving homes. The affair was celebrated simultaneously worldwide last May 5-6, 2007.

It was a happy weekend at the AKF Rescue Center as the place was decked in festive decoration complete with music and an ice cream stand for the kids. All the residents of the Center including of course the 370 well-fed and happy rescued dogs await the first visitor as they came pouring in the gates.

The event was indeed successful with a total number of 25 dogs adopted making it a record of sorts in the country as no one can claim that many dogs were re-homed in a short span of time.

In fact, it was so successful that the organizers decided to make it an annual event!

As the great playwright and songwriter, Noel Coward once said "only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun"; this time however the locals braved the midday sun and showed their compassion for animals by bringing into their homes the rescued dogs that could have ended as pulutan. (LMBuenaflor, Jr.)

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BBC Witnesses Rescue of Slaughter-bound Dogs!

The Animal Kingdom Foundation conducted a seizure operation on February 21, 2007 and was able to apprehend a delivery of one hundred dogs bound for slaughter, piled up inside a truck's cargo hold. The British Broadcasting Network composed of a producer / journalist and cameraman, who were supposed to do a feature on AKF's Animal Rehabilitation and Rescue Center in Capas, Tarlac witnessed the event.

AKF earlier scheduled two separate rescue operations in Nueva Ecija and Baguio when they received word from BBC about the planned feature. Informed about the scheduled operations, BBC agreed to join the operation but as the day of the two raids approached, it became apparent that these would not push through. The application of a search warrant meant for an illegal slaughterhouse in Baguio was denied and the dog-meat dealers in Nueva Ecija have become wary in their transactions with the undercover personnel and assets of AKF. Most of the dog-meat dealers mentioned that the primetime news of the recent raids and features in two big networks, Channels 2 and 7, concerning dog-meat trading had greatly affected their businesses.

AKF researcher, Greg S. Quimpo and Management Head Suzanne Llanera met in the rescue center and discussed the possibility of conducting an immediate interception of deliveries. Mr. Quimpo contacted his asset in Batangas where dog-meat trading was prevalent, and inquired if there would be any deliveries to the north by a known dog-meat trader. The asset sent two of his trusted men to buy a dog at the known trader's stockhouse and to fish for information at the same time. They reported back that there was a delivery and the vehicle had left moments before they arrived. Not knowing which were illegally used, Greg was provided by the asset of three possible license plates used by the delivery vehicle, which was a jeepney. At that point, only a few hours were left to coordinate with the police. The AKF team together with the BBC crew and International Wildlife Coalition Ttrust (IWCT) Chairman John Hawkridge split into two groups---Suzanne , John Hawkridge with the BBC team and Greg with the Mabalacat local police --positioned at checkpoints where the dog-traders might pass through. The odds were stacked against the two teams for the chances of intercepting a delivery that night was very slim despite confirmation by the asset of the delivery. There were other routes available for the delivery vehicle in the area.

The team held a stakeout for more than three hours and hoped for the best. Greg contacted the police stationed at the first checkpoint and decided at around eleven; the estimated time the vehicle would have passed by the area, to sweep the highway further south of the first choke point hoping the dog traders have stopped for a rest or food.

Later on that evening, a SWAT team that was also updated about the delivery vehicle reported sighting the jeepney bearing one of the license plates that the asset provided. The dog-traders ignored them when they were flagged down and just sped away. The SWAT gave chase but lost them along the highway. Meanwhile, the police manning the checkpoint noticed a vehicle crossing an interior road a few blocks from the highway and the SWAT team chasing them! The dog-traders entered the highway, a few blocks from the checkpoint, through the opening on an interior road of a village. It was a few feet ahead from that road opening that the scampering police and SWAT caught up with the dog-traders.

AKF, with John and the BBC team, Stephen Foote and Neil Ansell, recovered a delivery of 100 slaughter-bound dogs which were transferred to AKF's truck and brought to the rescue center. Unfortunately, four dogs already expired before rescue. Considering AKF's previous interceptions where the mortality rate is a sad 40%, this interception was a cause for celebration. Most of the dogs recovered initially looked well despite their trauma. Given the friendly nature of this batch of rescued dogs, AKF suspects they are mostly pets.

Early the next day, after a rest of only a few hours, the AKF and the BBC teams proceeded to Talavera, Nueva Ecija and together with the Cabanatuan police, raided a house with a makeshift restaurant serving dog-meat dishes. One dog meant for slaughter was rescued. Cases of violating the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 were filed that same day against four persons, the Batangas dog-traders and the restaurant owner and his butcher in Talavera, Nueva Ecija, and inquest proceedings were carried leading to their temporary imprisonment.