Cebu City is going after the owners of at least 127 abandoned dogs in the mountain barangay of Adlaon.

The city's disaster risk reduction and management office found the dogs after receiving a complaint that they were left in a shelter.

"A barangay kagawad called the vice mayor who is also the chairman on Committee on Animal Welfare in the city council," said Ramil Ayuman, the special assistant for projects in the city.

The Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries assessed the dogs and found that 7 were already dead.

They have started to rescue the dogs. Fourteen were moved back to the city pound, while the rest will be transferred within the coming days.

The city hall is ordering the police to investigate.

"Animal welfare cases cannot take a back seat simply because of the nature of the victim," said Vice Mayor Raymond Garcia.

"No let-up. Whoever may have committed, bring them to court, have them prosecuted," Mayor Michael Rama said.

Adlaon is located about 26 kilometers away from the city proper.

Just recently, 5 dogs were allegedly killed in Cebu City's Barangay Guadalupe using rat poison.

— Report from Annie Perez