ANGELES CITY Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin has asserted the accreditation of the city’s dog pound to the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) in order for the City Veterinary Office to take charge of accrediting local backyard breeders.
According to CIAC’s VP for Operations IC Calaguas and concurrent Lazatin’s chief tactician and adviser, Php 6 million has been allocated for free neutering and spaying of 1,000 pets, as well as free anti-rabies vaccines for 30,000 pets in the city. City’s Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel said the city is targeting zero stray dogs and cats in 2022 and she was also pleased to announce that an “Adoption of Dog and Cat Program” was launched recently at the City Veterinary Office animal pound to shelter rescued animals victimized by cruelty, neglect or abandonment. Manuel, an animal lover herself, said this facility is dedicated to the protection and the promotion of humane treatment of dogs and cats.
“We will educate and disseminate information concerning animal welfare, animal care, animal control, and other animal-related concerns. The city is obligated to get them treated, rehabilitated and adopted into loving homes provided the interested adopters or maybe fosterers meet the screening criteria,” Manuel stressed.
“Why should you adopt a dog and not buy one? Pet stores sell animals only to earn money. Most of the animals sold in such stores were raised in breeding farms where they were crammed into tiny and filthy cages or containers. These factories mass produce animals like products and often ignore their basic needs. Many are shipped to pet stores in tight containers and arrive malnourished, sick, or injured. Dead or dying animals are considered part of the cost of the business. When you buy an animal, you are supporting these cruel breeding farms, and another animal will be bred to replace it. It is a cycle of never ending misery.” – Aklan Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Center.
Public interests in animal rights have intensified dramatically in the past years. Serious efforts by animal welfare advocates to prevent animal cruelty had paved the way for the enactment of Republic Act No. 8485, otherwise known as the Animal Welfare Act of 1998.
The purpose of the said law is to protect and promote the welfare of all animals in the Philippines. Animal cruelty is a repulsive act against some of the most vulnerable members of society. Consistent with this objective, RA No. 8485 provides penalties for violation of any provisions of said law including torture, neglect and maltreatment of animals.
However, there are still reports that high incidence of cruelty to animals, especially to dogs, man’s best friend, continues to exist. Years ago, it was reported in several news networks that the Philippine National Police and Network for Animals, a non-government organization, found in vacant lots in Laguna 400 kilos of dog meat. The NGO received a tip that dogs are being butchered in the area to be sold in Baguio City. Dogs are sold from Php 10.00 – 100.00 depending on the size of the dog. Dog meat is said to sell at Php 140.00 per kilo.
Under RA No. 8485 as amended, violators of any provisions of said law shall be punished by imprisonment ranging from six months to three years or a fine ranging from Php 30,000 – 250,000 or both at the discretion of the court.
Rep. Evelina Escudero (1st district, Sorsogon) filed House Bill 7225 which seeks to put more teeth to the law by imposing stiffer penalties to violators. Also under this proposal, violators shall not benefit from Presidential Decree No. 968 or the Probation Law, if the animal subjected to cruelty dies, as the penalty thereof is raised to more than six years of imprisonment.
In this bill, any person who subjects any animal to cruelty, maltreatment or neglect shall upon conviction by final judgement be punished by a graduated scale of imprisonment to six years and six months and one day to eight years and/or fine not exceeding to Php 500,000 if the animal subjected to cruelty, maltreatment, or neglect dies; imprisonment to three years and six months and one day to six years and/or fine not exceeding to Php 350,000 if the animal is severely injured with loss of its natural faculty to survive on its own and needing human intervention to sustain its life; and imprisonment of three years and six months and one day and/or fine not exceeding Php 250,000 without causing its death or incapacitating it to survive on its own.