The Whitechapel district of London had Jack the Ripper. New York had Son of Sam. Chicago had John Wayne Gacy. Dasmarinas Village has… a cat killer?
It seems like it as a notice is going around the exclusive village in Makati warning residents of an individual who is cruelly killing the cats in the village and leaving threatening notes.
The notice, dated January 25, 2016, was shared by the Cats of Manila Facebook page through Criselle Luna. The owner of the photos remain unknown. According to the letter:
Dear residents,
During the past 12 days, there have been an alarming number of unexplained disappearances/deaths of cats within our village. Three (3) cats from our park cattery, three (3) park cats, and eight (8) dead and missing cats along the Calumpang, Avocado and Paraiso streets – some of these cats subsequently found dead. None of these cats died of natural causes. In the latest horrific instance, paint thinner was cruelly poured over the cat who died a slow and painful death from chemical burns.
An elderly family retainer who kindly feeds and waters the neutered cats for the past 40 years received the second letter threat in his vehicle on January 18, 2016 in the Avocado-Paraiso area. The reproduced written threat is attached.
We call everyone’s attention to the Republic Act 8485 and the amended IRR 10631 which provides fines up to P250,000 and imprisonment of up to three (3) years; and subsequent immediate deportation (if a foreigner) for acts of abuse, maltreatment, cruelty, and neglect of animals.
A photo of the threat was also posted, and it is creepy. The note says:
You stop feeding cats! Our village is no cat sanctuary. Or else…
Strangely, this is not the first time this has happened. In 2008, writer Elvira Mata wrote an article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer about a cat killer in the same village. During that time, an unidentified person shot 29 kittens and cats which were about to be adopted. According to the article:
“Early Sunday morning, (Dec. 16), a security guard called us at home and told us what happened. We immediately went to the holding area and we saw blood splattered on the cages and on the walls. The cats were either dead or dying. It was a horrible sight! We called our vet, Dr. Nielsen Donato of Vets in Practice and he came quickly. But he was only able to save 15 cats.”
In her letter to the NBI, Cu Unjieng wrote: “After the carnage, three cats died from head wounds, 11 were seriously injured and euthanized by our veterinarian, eight underwent surgery to remove embedded pellets and seven were grazed by pellets.”
The village security team investigated the incident but found no witnesses who saw or heard any shots fired that night. They have no leads as to the identity of the cat killers.
Victoria P. Celdran, president of the Dasmariñas Village Association, sent a circular on Dec. 19, 2007 to residents asking for information leading to the identification of the owner and user of the air gun. “He may be in our midst. If he can kill helpless cats at the back of the gym, near our park, he may start shooting at humans later with a gun other than that which uses compressed air and pellets,” she wrote in the circular.
The case highly publicized that even then-mayor Jejomar Binay condemned the act. In a separate Inquirer article, he said, “I have ordered the police to arrest those responsible as soon as possible. The suspects have violated a national law and a city ordinance on animal welfare.”
Do you have any leads on this case? Share them below!
