Rescuers save animals from typhoon floods.
A disturbing discovery has emerged in the wake of Typhoon Gaemi, one of the most destructive storms to hit Southeast Asia in recent times. The Philippines was devastated by the powerful typhoon that hit the country in July, leaving behind extensive damage. The storm's fury left a trail of destruction, with tens of thousands of people evacuated and several dozen dead.
According The subway, Amid the chaos, Ashley Fruono, director of animal assistance programs for PETA Asia, discovered a horrific scene: dogs that had been abandoned and were caged or tied to light poles outside their owners’ destroyed homes. These creatures were abandoned and left to weather the storm on their own, even despite the dire circumstances and the pressing need for evacuation.
“I will never forget seeing the decomposing bodies of dogs in cages or tied to their chains with a look of horror on their faces. They were subjected to an almost unimaginably horrific death, which was completely preventable,” Ashley said. The subway.
The news portal further reported, citing a report by the global registry of kennel clubs, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, that animal abuse has long been a major concern for animal rights activists in the Philippines, home to an estimated 23.29 million dogs. Around 12 million people own a dog. However, there were at least 3,000 cases of animal abuse in 2020 alone, as found by Philippine non-profit animal welfare organization Compassion and Responsibility for Animals (CARA).
A resident of Marikina City, Philippines, on Wednesday posted a video showing a dog struggling to reach a safer area through floodwaters caused by Super Typhoon Gaemi (CarinaPH) image.twitter.com/fsUEE63JLh
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“Animal cruelty is a big concern in the Philippines,” said Ashley, 38, who is from British Columbia, Canada, but has lived in the Philippines for 17 years.
“While we've noticed that, thanks to increased use of social media, locals are more aware of animal welfare concerns and are more supportive than they were a decade or so ago, the problem remains huge, especially in impoverished areas where it can be harder to keep dogs inside due to crowded living conditions,” Ashley said.
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