MANILA, Philippines — Bacoor, Cavite Mayor Strike Revilla said the city has shut down the pet crematorium that was linked online to the alleged dumping of dead animals in Bulacan.
In a Facebook post on Saturday night, Revilla said that Ahjay Paws Aftercare Pet Crematorium was ordered closed in response to several complaints.
The closure came amid the discovery of 29 deceased dogs and cats at a vacant lot in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan late on Friday.
“In response to the complaints we received from our fellow citizens, we immediately directed the City Legal Office and the Business Permit and Licensing Department (BPLD), together with our police force and other concerned offices, to conduct an investigation. We have officially implemented a closure order against the establishment in question,” Revilla wrote in Filipino.
“The investigation is ongoing to establish the full truth and ensure that anyone found to have violated the law is held accountable,” he added.
He also met with representatives of the crematorium and 30 pet owners.
Revilla said the establishment had two cremation machines in Bacoor and in Caloocan City.
“The owner admitted that some pets were brought to Caloocan for cremation. However, there is still insufficient documentation or evidence to prove that the cremations were actually carried out,” the mayor said.
He added that the crematorium owner could not confirm whether or not the animals that were dumped in Bulacan were among those entrusted to them.
Whose ashes?
Rose Ann dela Peña said she lost her dog Blue, also known as B2, on May 29.
She told The Manila Times in a message early on Sunday that while B2 was not among the animals discovered in Bulacan, she was concerned about whether or not she got the ashes of her pet.
“We entrusted B2 to Ahjay’s, believing that we would receive her ashes and nothing else. But with everything that has come to light, how can we be sure? We deserve the truth, transparency, and proper answers from Ahjay’s. We just want to make sure that the ashes we received truly belong to our beloved B2,” dela Peña said.
“We trusted them during one of the most painful moments of our lives. Knowing that something like this allegedly happened makes us question whether our pets were truly handled with the care, respect, and dignity they deserved… As fur parents, our pets are family. They deserve respect even after they pass away, and we deserve peace of mind knowing that they were treated properly,” she added.
While dela Peña welcomed the closure, she called for a thorough investigation.
“We want clear answers, accountability from those responsible, and assurance that this will never happen again. I also hope the authorities will strengthen the monitoring and regulation of pet crematoriums to protect other fur parents from experiencing this kind of pain and uncertainty,” she said.
“We are not just talking about animals; we are talking about beloved family members entrusted to their care. Every fur parent deserves the truth, and every pet deserves a dignified farewell,” she added.
The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has called on owners of pets that were deceived to come forward and pursue legal action.
“The images of the dumped bodies of the dogs and cats were shocking, although not directly a violation of the Animal Welfare Act if the animals were already deceased when they were turned over to the crematorium,” PAWS said on Saturday.
They pointed out that these actions constitute a grave betrayal of public trust.
“Pet parents paid for a service that was supposed to provide their beloved companions with a dignified farewell. Instead, their remains were reportedly dumped like garbage in a vacant lot. This is not merely a failure to deliver a service but constitutes Estafa by means of deceit,” the group said.
“We urge affected pet parents to preserve their receipts, cremation certificates, communications, photographs, and other evidence, and to seek legal assistance in filing the appropriate complaint,” PAWS said. “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. The bond between a person and a companion animal does not end with death. The dignity with which a beloved animal is laid to rest matters deeply to those who loved and cared for them.”