Dog club applauds Talisay’s decision

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu South Dog Club Inc., an animal welfare group, has lauded the Talisay City government for putting a stop to the practice of killing cats and dogs by tailpipe (tambutso) gassing.

“Tambutso” gassing, or carbon monoxide gassing, is a means to regulate the number of stray cats and dogs.        

These are confined in a metal box from which a tube extends to a truck’s muffler.

The animals are dead in ten minutes.

“Dako kaayo ang among kalipay nga gihangop sa kadagkuan sa Talisay City sa immediate stoppage of “tambutso” killing of dogs,” said Gregorio Perdido, who is the past president and who founded the Cebu South Dog Club in 2009. 

Perdido said there are more humane ways of killing dogs rather than “tambutso” gassing.

Last November 19, the group, in its letter addressed to Mayor Socrates Fernandez, indicated their opposition to the practice and asked to be stopped immediately, describing it as “cruel” and “pitiless.”

Guillam Roque, CSDC president, said that is not among the prescribed methods of euthanasia or mercy killing in accordance with Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of the Philippines.

“We would like to reiterate that per law, the “tambutso” gassing/killing method is not included in the prescribed methods of euthanasia as stated in Department of Agriculture-Administrative Order No. 13,” Roque said. 

The practice being done in Talisay City after a certain Gerald Cabinatan submitted photos of the practice to a television station.

Dr. Santiago Hortel, city veterinarian, admitted that his department practiced “tambutso” gassing because it was presumed it was allowed by an administrative order issued by the Department of Agriculture.

Order 13, issued in May 18, 2010, listed down the approved methods of euthanasia which included the use of carbon monoxide from a car exhaust. (FREEMAN)