Pinoy Dogs
Now before I start here I have to admit to a real problem in my life, not many of you readers have the same problem but I am a BRIT. Ok it’s out in the open now so I can continue my blog about the dogs here in the Philippines and the unusual treatment I have seen.
I have to say too that this is the things I have seen and it will come across as negative from my perspective; I hope so much my experiences on this subject are not universal here in the Philippines.
Remember us Brits are crazy on dogs we treat them like a member of the household and the laws in the UK for animal welfare and especially for dogs are very strict. You are more likely to go to prison for abuse or neglect of a dog then to steal or threaten other people.
Imagine my amazement when in arriving in the Philippines and the way in general dogs are treated. Mostly in my opinion very bad.
I have been in resorts where security guards and grounds men chase stray dog around an get pleasure of throwing rocks at it smashing its head with wood kicking it and laughing as it yelps in pain , this is done in front of other diners who have no reaction to it.
I live in a very upmarket village and one guys has five dogs caged all the time day and night, they whimper yelp and cry out for help all night, it got so bad I asked him several times to do something, he did not. I made a complaint to the village leaders it was ignored. I tried reason with the man to please let the dogs out to help stop the suffering; his reply is to tell me if I continue he will kill the dogs in front of me!!.
I took this seriously, as a house further down had complaints about its dog barking all night, after the complaint was heard the owner and his friend kicked the dog around the garden whilst laughing then took it out the back where a scream of pain was heard. The dog was never heard or seen again.
My friend who lives in a “poor” village has a dog that the family treasure, it’s truly loved and trained and is part of the family but they admit they are not the norm where dogs are concerned.
I have seen so called guard dogs tethered to such a short leash all day that they cannot even sit down!! I have not yet seen dogs being eaten; but I will and can accept that if a dog is all the food anyone has, that is understandable.
I am fully aware of the rabies situation and I understand it’s much better to be wary of a stray dog, but to torture or mistreat the so called family pet!!
When I stayed on POLLILIO ISLAND I was not surprised that dog catchers roamed at night, what I was surprised to see is that ANY dog seen is put in a truck taken to the city hall and drowned in full view of the public. That scene will haunt me rest of my life.
It amazes me that my new home of choice offers so much beauty and such wonderful hosts that this can happen, even if my experience is not the norm, there is a strange culture to Dogs in this country.
My close friend who has four dogs who seem to be loved and happy in or out the family home, but even they seem to have a dog die every few months and replace it.
Can you tell that i love dogs?
Last 5 posts by John
- Reminiscing part one - March 7th, 2010
- Little Lamb - February 14th, 2010
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- Tidbits from Manila - January 17th, 2010
Hello Cheryll Ann,
** I have been to England, not everyone in England treats their dogs well.
In the Philippines it is the same, some people treat dogs like people, loved and adored some are cruel. **
The number of people in England who treat dogs badly is in fact very small. I am a veterinary surgeon with my own clinic not too far from London. I have a throughput of about 300 consultations per week, in the last five years I have only seen two cases involving deliberate cruelty to dogs and I called the police in both cases, one resulted in a prosecution.
I do not think you can draw any comparison at all to animal welfare in the Philippines and the UK. While I accept of course that there are a number of people in the Philippines who treat their animals very well they are in fact in the minority.
The treatment of animals in the Philippines ranging from fighting cocks, the sale, transport and slaughter of dogs for human consumption, through to horse fights is clearly a cultural issue.
These are my observations which I believe are valid and accurate, my intention is not to judge.
Scott Nimmo BVMS, MRCVS
Jeff, Hawaii is rabies free which is why it is a friggin nightmare to send dogs there. Unless dog is originally from Australia, England, etc you will have trouble.
It is the only US state where it is very hard to ship a dog to, but it can be done. I wonder if Hawaii will accept Rabies titer test like some EU countries?
If they do it would be easier.
Scott – I am sure you do not see abused dogs regularly – Filipino vets do not see abuse dogs regularly either.
People who abuse their animals do not send them to vets, and puppy farmers have their own vets who will vouch for them.
FYI – horse fights were banned in Davao if I am not wrong…
Cock fighting is cruel but people eat chickens, so I think cock fighters will have the defence we eat chicken anyway.
Dogs however are not supposed to be part of anyone’s meal. There are laws on dog eating but sometimes people turn a blind eye. But some people are raiding the dog butchers now. There was a Brit who rescued and brought to England a dog meant for slaughter.
I think the Philippines has come a long way – when I was a kid it was normal to know people who would eat dogs, now I barely know anyone who eat dogs.
It is now mostly in the colder areas where they still eat dogs,YUCK!
In Korea it’s even worse as they torture the dogs before eating them and they supposedly cook live cats into soup, sick…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/south/series5/puppy_farming_wk1.shtml you can look at this scott.
Also at a list where I am on – a shih tzu list run my a lady in England we heara lot of dognapping, plus some English people who HURT dogs on purpose like tying down a shih tzu near a canal or something purposefully to let it drown.
ALL OVER THE WORLD, there are people who would on purpose hurt dogs, and they don’t bring dog to the vet.
In the USA a dog was in a puppy mill auction it was an AM Ch the breeder was called by the rescue groups, seems she did not care, so rescue group went in and bid for it.
US rescue groups as a general rule do not buy and bid on dogs in auction unless the puppy mill is closing. If they are only doing kennel reduction no one wants to give them extra funds.
I am more concerned about the puppy farmers who have hundreds of dogs in dark crammped spaces where dogs are not fed and once their breeding lives are over are killed. Than the individual who maltreats his / her dog.
Actually if you think of it someone who eats a dog does not make the dog suffer a long time, someone who puppy farms dogs in crammed dark airless barns torture the dog for years and years until the dog is useless for breeding.
And yes there are puppy farms in the Philippines too, dogs outside never been on a bed, etc they are just better off as help is cheap in PH so at leasty even puppy farmed dogs get to be bathed, fed, cleaned,regularly.
Just to agree that the first priorities are not the dogs but the children of the Philippines, and regarding animal mistreatment recorded in the UK. THe point is that it is reported and acted on all the time, just like in the USA the point being i doubt its not even recorded here.
I remember having an Alsation share my bed but nine dogs wow!! I hope you are a heavy sleeper:razz::razz:
I actually only mentioned England because the writer is English and mentioned dogs are treated badly in PH. Unfortunately not all dog abuse is acted upon in USA.
How come all the puppy mills still exist, especially among the Amish, have never heard of any of the amish being arrested for cruelty to animals when in fact it has been documented time and again.
What about the fur farms who skin animals that are still alive? Doyou know how they kill chinchillas when used for fur? Genital electricution.
Anyway you cannot help people who will not help themselves. We try, but we cannot help everyone. We can only help those who wish to be helped.
You are like my dad though he thinks people should be helped first before the animals.
I think we should help the animals first.
To each his own I suppose.
Well your German Sheperd is big, Shih Tzu are small. My bed ins queen sized and I have a couch in my room that folds out into a queen sized bed too, LOL!
by Mahatma Gandhi: ‘The Greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.
Cheryll Ann,
** ‘The Greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. **
Using your quote as a yard stick I do wonder where you personally would place the Philippines in terms of greatness and moral progress ?
just curious,
Scott
As the author of this item I have to say I am feeling humbled, as I too this week have been helping street children and sick friends and of course that comes first in financial terms. I know its easy to say animals must be treated right and proper,but I do agree with many of the above comments people come first. I am lucky to be able to have well cared for pets in the UK,thats money we have, that’s NOT money the Philippines has.
Re. post #107. Cheryll Ann, pls. do me a favor. Pls. don’t go beyond your family’s compound when you answer this question.
I’d like to see the Philippines get high ratings. 
Angie, LOL LOL LOL LOL not to worry if I add in all my friends and aquantances and most show people I know the Philippines would be in the TOP 5!
The thing is they show only the BAD things that happen to dogs in the Philippines which is what Scott sees. He does not see the other side.
They do not show the good things that happen to dogs in the Philippines. The Philippine dogs owned by many live luxurious lives.
There are many Asians that buy dogs that are worth
$5,000
$10,000
$25,000
I am talking about US$
There are even dogs worth 5 million pesos
These are Champions in USA, Canada, etc.
None of these dogs are ever hurt, have their own help, etc.
And none of these dogs are bred to death – there is no way to get your money back, hehehehe.
I have been to many places and everywhere there are people who will abuse animals – sure they don’t eat them l- but they raise them in puppy farms / puppy mills and the dogs live their their whole lives, in my opinion that’s more cruel than eating a dog.
At least when they eat dogs they only hurt the dog when they transport it and kill it.
In puppy farms / mills – which is more common in Europe and US, the suffering is greater. Plus they have fur farms, hehehe.
My friends in Europe tell me milling in the Eastern block is simply horrible, just lats year pictures were published dogs were tied down and exposed to elements floor was muddy, there was no food or water.
You know some people did mention we get upset over dogs and cats getting eaten because they are cute and domesticated pets but have we not considered that cows, chickens, pigs, etc have feelings too and were domesticated and some people keep them as pets too…. hmmm food for thought.
I still won’teat a dog or cat, hehehe.
I thought you would find this interesting reading – the puppy farms in China where tehy raise dogs as food for people – OMG so sick. They also raise poor bears put in little cages for their bile – so sick
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/archives/2001/07/08/0000093207
PUPPY mill pics and all VERY GRAPHIC pics – if you get sick easily please DO NOT look
http://helpoutlawpuppyfarms.blogspot.com/
http://www.atourhands.com/pupmills.html
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/kgaeding/puppy/picsmills.html
http://www.darkrose-bds.com/kennel/milpics.htm
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/hopeuk/puppy_farm_capital.htm
the only thing I can say is puppy mills in Philippines is NEVER this bad, my friends and I have visited many mills to see how the dogs are (we were even considering buying them but figured we did not want to give the millers money) I think it’s because in PH help is very cheap so at leats dogs are reasonably cared for. But dogs are still bred every season and kept in a cage all thet time, sigh…
So what I am saying is all over the world there are dog abuses in MANY FORMS just because a world is first world and richer than the poor third world Philippines does not in any way make them “cruelty free”, because animal abuse happends worldwide.
YOUR PIECE ON PINOY DOG, EVERY COUNTRY HAS ITS RULES I HAVE A JACK RUSSEL ITS LIKE FAMILY TO ME AND MY WIFE ( PHIL ) AND DAUGHTER WHO PICKED IT OUT.IT SLEEPS WITH US GOES ON TRIPS AND IT IS FAMILY 100% I HAVE BEEN AROUND THE WORLD AND SEEN HOW DOGS ( AND OTHER ANIMALS BEENING MIS TREATED ) THOSES WHO DO WILL GET THERE PAYBACK FOR THIS IS MY OPINION
Larry
Lets hope it will change and Dogs will be pets throughout the world
John alittle different question than your topic but thought i would ask.my wife and i want to bring our little Lhasa Apso to the philippines i have checked on the airlines and price for carry on
and that is fine but would like to know if anyone knows if or what are the requirements to bring him in to the philippines. thanks for any info.
Scott,
Animals in India and Sri Lanka are worshipped because they believe spirits are in them.
Yes, animal cruelty is a big problem and issue in the Philippines. Sad to say, people in our government are more concern with their own welfare and pockets than other important things like this.
I used to work in a local radio and tv station and I fully support their fight against animal cruelty and rabies. But that govt. program was good for a short time though.
I am happily married to a Brit and we have two lovely kids. We have a brave local dog and looking forward to having a beagle for our daughter and a german sheperd or a rottweiler soon. Animals are like family to us, we got that from my father. We even give them our family name.
Hi again Scott,
You should come to China. We have an apartment here and my husband and I have been here for five years now. They eat anything here, crawling. flying, say it. Dogs, cats, snakes, turtles, frogs, crocodiles, starfish (they smell so bad when they’re dead), and you can literally see them in the market, even in supermarkets. Dead, peeled, chopped.
The first time my daughter saw them she just wont stop crying and she didnt eat for a couple of days.
I can send photos to you about our adventures here.
Now, that’s animal cruelty worse than the Philippines.