Trigger Warning: Animal death
A campus cat of De La Salle University (DLSU) was killed after being mauled by aggressive dogs that entered the Manila campus.
Student publication The LaSallian (TLS) reported on Sunday, May 17, that two campus cats were attacked by two dogs that entered the campus that afternoon.
One cat was harmed while sleeping on a bench, while the other one managed to escape after being chased by one of the dogs, TLS said.
The publication reported that Laureen Velasco, a DLSU professor and founder of the DLSU PUSA (Professors for the Upliftment of Society’s Animals) community that cares for the campus cats, said she has already spoken with one of the dog owners.
The DLSU PUSA confirmed that one of the campus cats, Mittens, was killed after being “mauled to death” while she was sleeping in on a bench at the Velasco Building on the afternoon of May 17.
The organization said campus security guards on duty attempted to intervene during the attack.
“However, the dogs were extremely aggressive, and the situation escalated very quickly, causing panic among everyone present,” it said in a statement.
“We hope people refrain from directing blame toward the guards, who also attempted to respond under difficult circumstances,” the DLSU PUSA added.
The organization said such incidents are “always avoidable,” expressing hope that it will serve as a reminder for pet owners to be responsible fur parents.
“We hope that this can serve as a reminder to all pet owners that we are solely responsible for our pets. Responsibilities that are more than just feeding, grooming, and playing with them but ensuring that those around them can also feel safe within their presence,” the organization said.
The org also assured the community that it is already “doing its best efforts looking through the legal actions to ensure justice for Mittens.”
It added that Mittens first appeared on campus in September 2025, noting she was “very skittish” and would often run away when volunteers tried to feed her.
“Though after a while, we noticed that she was cuddling up to people, slowly, she was trusting us more. Eventually, she was able to call the campus her home; oftentimes, she would be seen lounging around the Velasco benches, even until her passing,” the DLSU PUSA said.
It ended its post with the hashtag “#JusticeForMittens.”
DLSU is famous for its campus cats, or stray felines that roam the campus and are cared for by its community, spearheaded by the DLSU PUSA organization.
Meanwhile, a similar incident occurred in McKinley, Taguig City, on April 16, when a male pet owner allegedly allowed his dogs to maul Ghost, a community cat cared for by the Cats of McKinley group.
ALSO READ: ‘Silence protects cruelty’: Witness appeal renewed in Ghost mauling case
A rescue group said that the mauling incident may be punishable under the Animal Welfare Act, which penalizes acts of cruelty against animals, especially those resulting in death.
