Dog meat, a delicacy threatened in the Uplands.

Baguio City – Since the Philippine congress enacted into law Republic Act 8485 or the animal welfare act, its immediate implementation was strictly enforced nationwide. Although, R.A. 8485 was unanimously approved and hailed by both the lawmakers and the animal rights advocates, the traditional dog meat eaters of the uplands – most especially the cultural and traditional conscious tribes of the Cordilleras – were contentious to the provision and penalty that the law provides. Considerably the law became a spoiler and a stop-gap measure that directly affected the people of the Cordilleras because since time immemorial, dog meat delicacy is already part of their culture and tradition particularly in Baguio City, Benguet and the nearby provinces. Rituals, occasions and other traditional feasts are not complete without serving dog meat on the table. In Baguio City, traditional dog meat eaters converged in restaurants that serve dog meat mixed with chili and other spicy products that make one’s taste buds relished with full mouth satisfaction. But the implementation of R.A. 8485 and the insensitivity of animal rights advocates who are always on the look – out for possible apprehension of dog traders, might eventually put to rest the culture and tradition of eating dog meat in the uplands.