Foe to Paw

They are known as companions. They are treated like families. They make us feel safe at home. Why harm them now?

It saddens me but animal cruelty has taken to the next level as we people also had. The advent of the new media became a big help in reporting animal cruelty issues. The social media known as tool for communication has been doing its job seriously. Many incidents were track down because pictures or videos of this cruelties were first posted on social media and had gone viral.

On 2012, Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) monitored about 100 cases of animal cruelty in the country. Also, amended that year was the Animal Welfare Act (Republic Act 8485) and increase penalties for those who have committed acts of cruelty to animals. On 2014, the newly-signed law, the Republic Act 10631 increased the maximum fine of P5,000 and prison term of two years to a maximum penalty of P250,000 and/or maximum imprisonment of up to three years if the offense is committed by any of the following: syndicate, an offender who makes business out of cruelty to an animal, a public officer or employee, or where at least three animals are involved.

I think many are still upfront to do animal cruelty before because the penalties are too weak and soft but now, it has more teeth and can pushed people involved in this cruelties into deeper penalties. This animals are prone for maltreatment because they do not fight back, well, most of them. And this people who treats this animals brutally feel superiority everytime they do the acts. If one cannot take care of his pet, then he doesn’t have the reason to have one. And maybe, those enjoying animal cruelty will level it up and starts to do it on humans.

In 2014, do you remember the case of a farmer, Silvestre Ravago from Oas, Albay who travelled 10 hours to Quezon City to seek help from the (PAWS) when his family's pet dog, Ella, brutally killed by a neighbor? He was helped by the PAWS on his case. It really upsets me everytime I heard this kind of news. Your beloved pet was killed by a drunk guard. Or like a cat was accidentally bumped by the fast moving car. How would you react on that? Accident it may seems, one life was gone.

Animals are meant to be treated like families especially those domesticated ones. They are companions and guards to properties. They worked for the militia in tracking down drugs paraphernalia and even hired for medical activities like guides for blinds and therapy buddy for those who needed one. In other nations, pets are treated with respect. Sometimes, it’s along discussion whether to have pets in a home. But why here in the Philippines, they are treated as such?

With this new law, I hope many will be vigilant to report and file cases to authorities to stop this animal cruelties. We are peace-loving people. As part of the living things created by God, they have the right to live and enjoy the wonders of this worlds.