Cartimar pets receive care

Animals at the Cartimar Pet Center in Pasay City are being fed and cleaned amid the strict quarantine being enforced due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019), according to a television report.

A social media post said that the animals could already be starving, even citing that barks of dogs could be heard on the streets.

President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire Luzon under "enhanced community quarantine" on Monday, March 16 to arrest the spread of the virus.  

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"The other day, andito kami, yung tao ko pina-surveillance ko.  Wala naman kaming magawa.  Wala naman kaming access sa loob, baka ma-trespassing pa kami," Ronaldo Bersanor, Pasay City Veterinary Officer, said.

Bernasor and his team, together with the media and officials of the two barangays covering the pet center, were finally allowed by the owner of the establishment to inspect the area.

"Nagtanong kami, meron bang napapabayaan," Barangay 38 chairperson Johnny Santiago said.  He said he gathered the caretakers of the pet stores and learned from them that they are taking care of the animals.

Barangay 39 chairperson Eva Recacio added that several people are looking after the pet center.

"Ang sabi kasi maingay daw sila talaga pag pinapakain, tapos may nagbabantay sa loob, may nag-aalaga," she said.

One of the caretakers said they have food stock for the animals for a month.  Some of them also joked that they could not let the animals die because they are more valuable than their own lives.