Mass grave? It's a pet cemetery

MANILA, Philippines - Seven tombs unearthed at a construction site in Pasay City last week contained the remains of large pedigreed dogs that died between 1910 and 1940, not human skeletons.

Kristin Anacta, daughter of the lot owner, said they found out that dogs were buried there after crime scene investigators from the Philippine National Police dug up the tombs and photographed the remains.

Each tomb had a concrete marker that bore the names of the dogs and the date of their death, she added.

Anacta said based on the dates on the concrete markers, the seven dogs were buried at the site between 1910 and 1940.

“The names of the dogs engraved on the concrete markers ranged from Whitey, Brownie, and Blackie to Boy,” she said.

“Each dog’s name on the marker was followed by the word ‘facing’ and the date of death.”

Anacta said probably the word ‘facing’ after each dog’s name indicated the direction where the dog’s body was facing when buried.

The concrete markers gave details about the dogs buried in the tombs, she added.

Anacta said the dogs’ master, who is believed to be an American, was a great lover of dogs that he or she did not simply bury his pets but placed a marker on their tombs.

“He or she did not just identify the dogs, but placed the date of their death and the direction where their bodies were facing on the markers,” she said.

Anacta said the dogs’ furs were still intact, along with their skeletons when police investigators dug up the tombs.

“We have left the dogs’ remains on their burial site, but their concrete markers were crushed and placed beside them,” she said.

Anacta said her family has been living in the neighborhood for the past 25 years.

The previous owner bought the lot from an American, she added.

An apartment building is being constructed on the lot, which is located in a residential area in 16 de Agosto Street in Pasay City.

Last Monday, the Anacta family brought a Catholic priest to bless the construction site.