Murcia boosts animal welfare after string of dart attacks

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The municipal government of Murcia in Negros Occidental is ramping up its animal welfare initiatives through education campaigns and barangay outreach following a series of disturbing animal cruelty cases.

Local officials, police personnel, barangay representatives, and animal welfare group Bach Project PH recently met to coordinate a response to a spate of dog dart attacks.

Police Capt. Honey Labaro, chief of the Murcia Municipal Police Station, said the meeting centered on reviving the town’s previously suspended dog pound, which had shut down due to limited space.

The local government also committed to hosting a symposium to educate pet owners on responsible ownership and animal care, while barangay visits will be launched as part of a wider awareness and prevention campaign.

Labaro described the meeting as “positive and collaborative,” a sentiment echoed by Bach Project PH, which called the initiative a “heartfelt collaboration” in a Facebook post.

The group expressed optimism about long-term improvements in the treatment of animals in Murcia.

Bach Project PH has been active for six years, providing food, shelter, and medical care to hundreds of rescued animals, largely supported by community donations.

Labaro stressed the importance of reporting animal cruelty directly to authorities before sharing incidents on social media, warning that online exposure can delay police response.

This advisory follows three reported dart attacks on dogs in Murcia this year, the most recent of which occurred last month in Barangay Iglau-an—far from earlier incidents in Barangays Blumentritt and Caliban.

The latest victim, a dog named Maxi, was seriously injured after a dart pierced dangerously close to his heart.

Two other dogs, Buldog and Tiktok, also sustained dart-related injuries in February; both recovered, though Tiktok died in a car accident earlier this month.

Bach Project PH admitted to failing to alert authorities promptly in previous incidents and pledged to follow proper reporting procedures moving forward.

The Murcia Municipal Police Station continues to encourage residents to report animal cruelty through the appropriate channels to enable swift and effective action.