San Juan pound employees slammed for animal neglect

MANILA, Philippines — Employees of the San Juan City pound will be held accountable after cats and dogs drowned last week during the onslaught of monsoon rains enhanced by Typhoon Carina.

“The city legal department is conducting an investigation pertaining to what happened in the San Juan dog compound. Hopefully, this is just an isolated case. But we will look into the incident,” acting city legal officer Mohammad Fayez Paudac said. “We will hold accountable employees and officers of the city government who will be proven to have not fulfilled their mandate.”

Eight cats and 20 dogs were rescued and brought to shelters in Cubao, Quezon City and Angono, Rizal.

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society expressed outrage over the incident that went viral on social media.

“Pound personnel should have released the animals to give them at least a fighting chance to survive,” the group said, urging Mayor Francis Zamora to take action.