Rescuing trapped, abandoned animals in Batangas ”case to case basis”: DILG

January 15, 2020

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday said rescuing of trapped and abandoned animals may be allowed on ''a case-to-case'' basis upon proper coordination with local disaster authorities.

DILG spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said Interior Secretary Eduardo Año allowed the rescue as to the request of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to rescue animals within the 14-km high-risk area from the Taal main crater but located in the mainland.

“Secretary Año will allow the rescue of animals in the evacuated areas so long as it’s in the mainland and not in the volcano island and with proper coordination with local disaster authorities. We will treat this on a case-to-case basis and subject to the approval of local authorities depending on the prevailing situation,” he said.

The exact number of animals affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano is not yet known. 

Malaya said PETA’s rescue teams have obtained a telescope to look for survivors and will attempt to gain access to areas where animals have been trapped.

According to PETA, they also deployed rescuers in the evacuation areas giving food, water, and veterinary care to dogs and cats abandoned or taken to centers

“They will continue caring for these animals until they can be reunited with their owners or placed in safe shelters,” it said.

The organization also called for items needed for relief operations for animals affected by the eruption.

PETA in an email message said the current situation on the island is that there are many dead animals while the survivors desperately need help.

“The island smells of rotting corpses but there are still scared dogs, horses, cows, and other animals on the island who need to be rescued. Priority number one is the green light for NGOs to conduct food and clean water drops on the island, and then for large boats – at PETA’s expense and risk to its members – to access the island and rescue the animals for urgent veterinary care,” it said.

Año ordered Taal Volcano island “off-limits” and tasked policemen to stop people from returning to get their belongings or animals.

Malaya said the off-limits was implemented since Monday, January 13 after Alert Level 4 was raised in Taal Volcano due to its continuous activity. Ella Dionisio/DMS