Don't be cruel

There was a blog that angered animal-lovers. I was told by Anna Cabrera, director of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), that the blog has “been taken down” and the blogger Joseph Candare has already gone back to Butuan, his hometown, because of the threats he was getting because of his cat-hating entry on his blog.

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Candare’s blog known as “My Perfect Symmetry” had an entry where he described his unexplainable hatred for cats.  Here is the entry on Candare’s blog:

An accidental crime. First day sa supercon. Lunch time came. On our way out of old NIP I saw the cat I almost killed last Tuesday. Now everyone knows I hate cats. It’s an unexplainable feeling towards them. Like some internal hatred. Hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit pero anumang pagpipigil sa sarili ay hindi sapat upang mapangibabawan ang panggigil ko sa mga pusa. I pulled it on its tail and threw it. Then like some pro wrestler I jumped on it and my feet landed on its torso. Slam! Felt good! But the cat didn’t die, well not yet. It ran for its life and just as I was about to catch up on it somebody yelled: “Pwede bang pabayaan mo yung pusa?!”. It was instant and involuntary. I stopped on my tracks. Nobody ever stopped me when assaulting cats. Well, I guess there’s always a first time for everything. The cat got away. Or at least that’s what I thought. So we went to lunch Mel, Jayson, Tracy and me. After lunch, balik na sa kung anumang naiwang gawain.

Then Tracy and Mel told me “Hui JC napatay mo yung pusa.” Hours later, habang abala sa XRD, a guy came in. Tanong niya: “Sinong pumatay dun sa pusa?” Bang! Dat was me boi. Guilty as charged. I didn’t see it die pero sabi ni Myles it coughed up blood or at least something like that daw. Didn’t realize I gave it a fatal hit. This isn’t the first time I’ve killed a cat but this time it’s different. It didn’t occur to me back then that the cat had a leash. So I think somebody owns it. Well it’s very well-loved in NIP from what I heard and I just ended its life. So there you go I’m sorry. And I wont be striking another one for maybe about a month. It feels good when your beating it (a cat) up but you suddenly feel something strange when it turns off permanently.

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Anna says that none of the witnesses of the incident has stepped forward to testify against Candare, even if he violated The Animal Welfare Act, which is punishable with six months or up to two years in prison or fee of P5,000 or both.

“It is sad that no one wants to testify against Candare,” quipped Anna. “It is because of this attitude that none of the violators of the Animal Welfare Act will get punished. No matter how cruel they are.”

But PAWS will file charges against Candare. They have the support of the UP officials who have recommended psychological guidance and possible disciplinary action for the student.

PAWS believes that animal cruelty is connected to human violence and, more often than not, is a precursor to human violence.

“That is why society should treat the matter of Joseph Candare seriously,” added Anna.  “It isn’t just a harmless blog. Candare killed a helpless kitten and boasted about it, as if there was nothing horrendously wrong about the act.”

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It is not uncommon for people in the US to get into lots of trouble if they treat their pet companions cruelly.

I have long believed that cruelty towards animals or humans is wrong. It becomes worse when we are intentionally cruel.

Many studies in psychology, sociology, and criminology during the last 25 years have demonstrated that violent offenders frequently have childhood and adolescent histories of serious and repeated animal cruelty. The FBI has recognized the connection since the 1970s, when its analysis of the lives of serial killers suggested that most had killed or tortured animals as children. Other research has shown consistent patterns of animal cruelty among perpetrators of more common forms of violence, including child abuse, spouse abuse, and elder abuse. In fact, the American Psychiatric Association considers animal cruelty one of the diagnostic criteria of conduct disorder.

Why would anyone be cruel to animals?

There can be many reasons. Animal cruelty, like any other form of violence, is often committed by a person who feels powerless, unnoticed, and under the control of others. The motive may be to shock, threaten, intimidate, or offend others or to demonstrate rejection of society’s rules. Some who are cruel to animals copy things they have seen or that have been done to them. Others see harming an animal as a safe way to get revenge on someone who cares about that animal.

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Now for the PAWS’ animal  shelter news.  Last year, 71 cats were adopted from the PAWS shelter.

Today there are 165 cats and 50 dogs in the shelter that are in need of homes.  If you are ready to have a pet, make adoption your first option. For more information, call  PAWS at 475-1688.

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PAWS’ has also received lots of kittens recently, that’s because people who pick up kittens off the streets take them to the PAWS’ shelter in the hopes that they will get adopted. 

But the shelter is straining from the sheer number of cats and kittens that it currently cares for. With the number at 165 and an average of five intakes (new kittens) a day, PAWS requests rescuers to be the kittens foster guardians while they await adoption.

“We offer kitten milk and a dropper, including a set of instructions on how to care for the kittens until they are at least six months old and ready for neutering,” added Anna. 

PAWS has five volunteers who are fostering kittens for them, but they need more. If you would like to help, drop by the shelter between 2 to 6 p.m., Mondays to Saturdays for more information  about  fostering a kitten.

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The PAWS Shelter is currently in need of cat food donations. The 165 cats and kittens consume around nine kilos of cat food a day.

A 22.7 kilogram (or 50 lbs.) bag of Princess Cat (the cheapest one PAWS is able to find right now) costs about P1,800  and lasts for about two and a half days. That’s around P22,320 per month, which is a really significant amount considering PAWS does not have a steady source of funding.

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In celebration of its 55th anniversary, PAWS invites all dog lovers to the “2nd Dine With PAWS Charity Dinner” at the Mall of Asia Music Hall on May 30. The event starts at 6:30 p.m.

Wear your best outfit and get your photos taken on the red carpet.

All guardians will enjoy a yummy dinner buffet, while dogs get a chance  to sample a unique Pet Buffet featuring mouth-watering doggie appetizers, premium entrees from Alpo Chop House as well as a delectable selection of canine desserts.

The main program will feature this year’s Order of the Platinum Paw Awardees  plus special numbers to be performed by PAWS celebrity supporters.

Reserve your tickets now for this one-of-a-kind event.

Tickets are priced at P1,500 per person and P2,000 for you and your doggie. For inquiries,  call or text 0917-8352405.

“Dine With PAWS” is supported by Alpo Chop House and SM Mall of Asia. Special thanks to McDonald’s, Magnolia Healthy Beverages,  Carlito’s Catering, Frontline, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Krispy Kreme, The White Hat, OdorLess & MaxiCoat, Jelly Bellies and The Philippine STAR Petlife Section.