NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – Kanlaon Volcano’s eruption on December 9, 2024, has upended life across Negros Island, displacing families and upending communities. But beyond the human toll lies another unfolding crisis – the plight of hundreds of pets left behind or struggling to survive.
In the shadow of Kanlaon’s towering silhouette, dogs and cats roam deserted streets, their barks and meows echoing through the abandoned barangays of La Carlota and La Castellana. In these two areas alone, over a thousand pets face hunger, illness, and an uncertain fate as local officials and volunteers scramble to provide food and medical care.
Yet amid the chaos, an initiative has emerged to find foster homes for rescued pets. As Negros Island braces for more catastrophic eruptions, the campaign underscores the reality that these animals, like their human counterparts, are victims of Kanlaon’s fury, waiting for a lifeline.
Reports from the Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office show that many of these animals are now suffering from respiratory and digestive illnesses after weeks of displacement.
In Barangay Cabagnaan, La Castellana alone, where the public is barred from going, over 500 dogs and cats have been left behind by their owners.
According to municipal information officer Remuel Lajo, barangay tanods were initially permitted to provide food during limited window hours. However, this was suspended on Saturday, January 11, after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) issued warnings of increased volcanic activity.
Cabagnaan, located within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone, has virtually become a “no man’s land” since the eruption. Many residents opted to leave their pets behind to guard against thieves.
In the nearby villages of Biak na Bato, Mansalanao, Sag-ang, and Masulog, hundreds of pets are being sustained by barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials. SK volunteers in these areas have stepped in as caretakers for displaced animals.
Call for help
La Carlota City launched the “Lava Fur Love” campaign on Wednesday, January 8, appealing to those willing to foster 40 dogs and four cats rescued from the affected barangays of Yubo and Ara-al.
City veterinarian Dr. Carlos Catabas described the situation as “beyond concerning,” adding that the animals in these often refuse commercial pet food – they are used to table scraps.
“It’s taxing for us to look for food every day,” Catabas said. “Besides, we always see them lonely. They long for their owners.”
Dr. Placeda Lemana, provincial veterinarian of Negros Occidental, said her team continues treating sick animals and providing vaccinations, deworming, and wound care in evacuation centers across La Castellana, La Carlota, and Bago City.
Heightened alert
Phivolcs has warned of a possible major eruption, citing severe inflation on Kanlaon’s surface, a drastic reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions, and other alarming indicators. The alert level could rise from 3 to 4, with the permanent danger zone extended to a 10-kilometer radius.
The Task Force Kanlaon has identified more evacuation sites, including Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City and designated areas in Silay, Talisay, and Kabankalan cities in Negros Occidental.
Evacuees from Moises Padilla and other high-risk areas may also be relocated to Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, under an agreement approved by authorities.
While some residents from areas outside the current danger zone have been allowed to return home, officials caution against complacency.
TFK head Raul Fernandez urged local governments to prepare for worst-case scenarios, including the possible evacuation of tens of thousands of residents.
Bago Mayor Nicholas Yulo expressed concerns about sustaining evacuees, noting the financial burden of providing meals at P800 per family per day.
La Castellana Mayor Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan, meanwhile, rejected a proposed “Tent City” in Himamaylan, citing the distance and inconvenience for evacuees. – Rappler.com