UP Visayas probes suspected poisoning of campus dogs

By Mariela Angella Oladive

ILOILO CITY – Suspected poisoning incidents involving campus dogs at the University of the Philippines Visayas have raised concern after one dog was found dead and another went missing, following similar deaths reported on the campus in 2025.

In a statement posted on its official Facebook page on Aug. 20, the UPV administration said five dogs — Poochie, Bronny, Numpy, Popper, and Mikmik — were accounted for as of Aug. 10.

Bronny was found dead near the new academic road on the afternoon of Aug. 12.

Earlier that day, Poochie was reportedly seen running erratically and trembling before disappearing into the woods.

Despite search efforts, Poochie has not been located and is presumed dead, the administration said.

The administration said a security guard reported seeing some of the dogs eating from a plastic bag and later vomiting.

The bag was subsequently found to contain rice mixed with a blue substance, prompting concerns that the food may have been deliberately poisoned.

The incident has renewed concerns over the safety of campus dogs, particularly as it follows three dog deaths reported in the area in 2025.

Those animals were reportedly found with foam around their mouths, also raising suspicions of poisoning.

The UPV administration condemned acts of cruelty against campus animals, citing the Animal Welfare Act, or Republic Act No. 8485, as amended by Republic Act No. 10631, which prohibits cruelty, maltreatment, and neglect of animals.

Under the amended law, it is unlawful to torture, neglect, maltreat, or kill an animal except under circumstances specifically allowed by law.

The law also provides penalties for cruelty, maltreatment, or neglect, with heavier penalties imposed when an animal dies as a result of the violation.

Animal welfare is broadly defined under the law to cover the physical and psychological well-being of animals.

That definition includes protection from abuse, maltreatment, cruelty, and exploitation, as well as from unnecessary fear, distress, discomfort, and pain.

UPV said an investigation into the latest incident is ongoing and appealed to anyone with information to report it to any member of the Security Service Force.

Meanwhile, the administration said it is discussing and implementing additional measures to better manage campus animals alongside existing initiatives, among them its Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release program, which sterilizes and vaccinates free-roaming dogs before returning them to the campus.