A blurred image shows the remains of 26 dogs and three cats found inside plastic bags dumped along a roadside in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan. Luna and Furry Siblings via Facebook
Content warning: This article contains references to dumped animal remains.
MANILA, Philippines (Updated November 1, 12:32 a.m.) — The Bacoor City government has shut down Ahjay Paws Aftercare Pet Crematorium following the discovery of the remains of 26 dogs and three cats in plastic bags dumped along a roadside in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan.
Bacoor City Mayor Strike Revilla said in a Facebook Reel on Saturday, October 31, that he had ordered the crematorium’s closure following complaints from pet owners.
The mayor said he had also instructed the Philippine National Police to investigate the establishment’s owner and pursue appropriate charges.
“Sarado na po siya. Ngayon po inatasan na po natin ang atin pong kapulisan para mag-imbestiga para po kasuhan ang may-ari po nito,” Revilla said in the video.
(Now that it has been closed, we have instructed our police to investigate so that the owner can be charged.)
The mayor said police investigators had been directed to visit the site in Bulacan where the remains of the pets were reportedly brought.
He also appealed to the complainants to help identify their pets to strengthen the case against the crematorium.
“At hinihingi ko po ang tulong ng ating mga complainant na dapat po ma-identify nila ‘yung kanila pong mga aso para po sa imbestigasyong ito para mas lalo pong tumibay ‘yung atin pong kaso,” Revilla said.
(I am asking for the help of our complainants. They must identify their dogs so that our investigation can be strengthened.)
“Kailangan ko po may complainant. Kailangan po may ebidensya po tayong ipakita,” he added.
(We need complainants. We need evidence to present.)
Revilla earlier said that the crematorium’s owner failed to present sufficient documents or evidence showing that pets entrusted to the establishment had been cremated.
In a Facebook post, Revilla said the city government met with owner Jonathan Legaspi and more than 30 pet owners seeking answers over the incident.
The initial investigation found that Ahjay Paws Aftercare had a valid business permit to offer cremation services in Bacoor.
The establishment also had two cremation machines, one in Bacoor and another reportedly in Caloocan City.
Legaspi acknowledged that some pets had been brought to Caloocan for cremation but could not provide sufficient documents or evidence that the procedure had been carried out, according to Revilla.
The owner also could not confirm whether the animals shown in a viral social media post were among those entrusted to the crematorium.
No CCTV footage or sufficient documentation was presented to prove that the cremations had taken place. Legaspi also could not assure pet owners that the ashes returned to them actually came from their respective pets.
The city government has since inspected the establishment and is verifying its business permits through the Business Permit and Licensing Department.
The City Legal Office also assisted in discussions and mediation with the affected pet owners, while the Philippine National Police and Barangay Kaingin-Digman helped them document their complaints.
Some pet owners have opted to seek financial compensation and damages, while others plan to file complaints with the assistance of the police.
Pet owners urged to pursue legal action
The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) on Saturday called on pet owners who were allegedly deceived by the crematorium to come forward and pursue legal action.
In a statement, PAWS said the images of the dumped dog and cat remains were shocking but noted that the incident may not directly violate the Animal Welfare Act if the animals were already dead when they were turned over to the crematorium.
Instead, the group said the alleged misrepresentation of the cremation service could constitute estafa under Article 315(2)(a) of the Revised Penal Code.
“This is a grave betrayal of trust, punishable under Article 315(2)(a) of the Revised Penal Code,” PAWS said.
“This is not merely a failure to deliver a service but constitutes Estafa by means of deceit,” the group added.
PAWS said affected pet owners paid for a service that was supposed to give their pets a dignified farewell, but their remains were reportedly dumped in a vacant lot.
Based on comments from affected pet owners, the crematorium allegedly claimed that their pets had been cremated despite knowing that this was not true, thereby inducing them to pay for the service, the group said.
PAWS urged affected pet owners to keep their receipts, cremation certificates, communications, photographs and other evidence, and seek legal assistance in filing complaints.
The group also called on the local government to thoroughly investigate the incident, check whether the crematorium had the required permits and determine whether the disposal of the remains violated sanitation, environmental and local regulations.
“The emotional harm suffered by these pet parents must not be dismissed. They entrusted the remains of beloved family members for a dignified farewell, only to be deprived of that farewell at a particularly vulnerable moment of grief,” PAWS said.
The group also urged affected pet owners to unite in seeking accountability, saying each complaint supported by evidence could help establish the extent of the alleged wrongdoing and prevent other grieving families from experiencing the same.
“The trust of a grieving family is not something to be exploited,” PAWS said.