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!
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.)
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.
