ILOILO, Philippines — A suspected poisoning incident involving campus dogs at the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) has sparked renewed concern over animal safety after one dog was found dead and another disappeared under circumstances that the university is now investigating.
The latest case occurred at UPV’s Miagao campus in Iloilo and has drawn particular attention because it follows the deaths of three dogs reported in the area in 2025, when the animals were also found with symptoms that raised suspicions of poisoning.
According to UPV’s Aug. 20 public statement, five campus dogs — Poochie, Bronny, Numpy, Popper and Mikmik — had been accounted for as of Aug. 10.
But on the afternoon of Aug. 12, Bronny was found dead near the new academic road.
Earlier that same day, Poochie was reportedly seen behaving abnormally, including running erratically and trembling, before disappearing into the woods. Despite search efforts, the dog could not be found and was subsequently presumed dead by the university.
A suspicious food bag raises alarm
The circumstances surrounding the dogs’ deaths have fueled suspicions of deliberate poisoning.
UPV said a security guard reported seeing some of the dogs eating from a plastic bag before they began vomiting. The bag was later found to contain rice mixed with a blue substance.
While this discovery has raised concerns that the food may have been intentionally contaminated, there has been no publicly reported confirmation that the substance was poison. The university’s investigation remains ongoing.
That distinction is important as authorities and the university work to establish what actually happened.
Concerns echo incidents reported in 2025
The latest deaths have revived memories of three dog deaths reported around the UPV campus in 2025. Those animals were reportedly found with foam around their mouths, another circumstance that led to suspicions of poisoning.
The apparent recurrence has intensified calls for stronger protection of free-roaming animals on campus and for anyone with information to come forward.
UPV has condemned acts of cruelty against campus animals and reminded the public that animal cruelty is prohibited under the Philippines’ Animal Welfare Act, Republic Act No. 8485, as amended by Republic Act No. 10631. The law prohibits acts including cruelty, maltreatment and neglect, with penalties becoming more serious when an animal dies as a result.
UPV already has animal-welfare programs in place
The latest incident comes despite ongoing efforts by UPV and local authorities to address the welfare of campus and stray animals through humane population-management programs.
In February 2026, UPV and the Iloilo City Government formalized a partnership to strengthen the Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) program. The initiative combines veterinary services such as sterilization and rabies vaccination with UPV’s support through facilities, volunteers, campus security and post-operative care.
Earlier that month, around 200 dogs and cats, including rescued animals from UP Visayas, underwent spaying and neutering during a large-scale animal-welfare activity at the UPV Auditorium. The program involved the Iloilo City Veterinary Office, animal-welfare organizations, veterinary groups and UPV volunteers.
UPV has also maintained an Animal Care Program aimed at addressing animal cruelty and managing the stray-animal population on its campuses, reflecting the university’s longer-running efforts to create a more humane campus environment.
University seeks information
UPV said its investigation into the latest incident is continuing and appealed to individuals who may have information to report it to members of the university’s Security Service Force.
For now, the central question remains unanswered: Were the dogs victims of deliberate poisoning, or was there another explanation for their sudden illness and deaths?
Until investigators establish what the blue substance was and determine how the dogs became exposed to it, the poisoning allegation remains a suspicion rather than a confirmed finding.
What is clear, however, is that the deaths have once again placed campus animal welfare under scrutiny — and raised difficult questions about whether existing safeguards are enough to protect UPV’s free-roaming dogs.
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