A kinder future for animals

Finally, lastJune 16, the Senate passed for the third and final reading the amendment of the 15-year-old Animal Welfare Act. It was a cliffhanger moment for May Felix-Razon and Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) executive director Anna Cabrera as they waited at the Senate Bills and Index section for the final, third-reading version of the bill.

The confirmation that the House of Representatives had adopted and concurred with the Senate version came in before Congress wrapped up its last session.

The bill, which was introduced by Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Greg Honasan, Manny Villar and Francis Pangilinan, is now in the process of “enrollment” and is for ready for signing into law by President P-Noy.

PAWS knows just how badly the increase in penalties is needed — having come face-to-face with animal offenders who end up paying a measly P2,000 in fines after having been convicted of animal cruelty.

Here are the highlights of the amended Animal Welfare Act:

1. Increase in penalties in the following graduated scale.

2. Deputization of animal welfare officers from trained NGOs, citizens’ groups to rescue illegally traded and maltreated animals and arrest violators subject to guidelines of existing laws and rules and regulations on arrest and detention.

3. It shall be unlawful for any person to abandon an animal.

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The passage of the amendments to the Animal Welfare Act are indeed welcome for those of us who have seen, heard and even witnessed how cruel some people can be when treating stray animals.

In hindsight, it’s good that during the last election, PAWS campaigned for the election of “pet-friendly” officials.

I am well-aware of the fact that there are so many problems that ail our beautiful country — yet, as far as I know, people are better people if they treat their animals well.

Here are some of the congressmen and senators who were big supporters of the amendments for the Animal Welfare Act.

Rep. Bernadette Herrera of Bagong Henerasyon Party List — she authored the amendment for the Animal Welfare Act and was responsible for lobbying for the amendments to be taken up in committee hearings.

Rep. Boyet Gonzales of Mandaluyong — he is responsible for supporting the animal welfare act amendment for Second Reading in the Lower House.

Rep. Raymond Palatino of Kabataan party-list — He filed House Resolution 2759 directing the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) to prohibit public school field trips to marine parks. Palatino cited studies that have shown that keeping dolphins and whales in captivity also shortens the lifespan of these animals. In Ocean Adventure Park in Subic, four out of five false killer whales and a bottlenose dolphin used for performances have already died. All of these animals were from Japan. “Is this what we want our youngsters to learn — that people would risk endangering the lives of endangered animals just for entertainment? The nation’s youth deserves the right to be informed correctly and protected from misleading facts,” Palatino said.

Sen. Chiz Escudero and Sen. Gringo Honasan — both senators have supported the amendment of the Animal Welfare Act in the Senate and have stated strong positions that the 14-year-old Anti-Cruelty Law must be updated to impose heavier penalties for animal offenders.

There are many animal cruelty issues and people have taken opposing views on many of them. But, for us animal-lovers, there is only one view — no to animal cruelty — in whatever form.

“The problem of inhumane management of city pounds is a common problem. The root of the problem is mayors who refuse to appoint city veterinarians and to set aside a budget that will make sure their respective cities have animal-control facilities that operate humanely, “ said Cabrera. “Stray dogs that are caught must be given food and water — every day, even during holidays. If they see this issue as a trivial one, then it goes to the very core of these candidates, it shows whether they are deserving to be voted in by people who care for animals.”

I have rescued kittens and cats in the hope of, even in a small way, giving a better life to the rescues.

It saddens me no end when I read stories in the news about how we have failed to keep our rescues alive and well.

Hopefully, with a new law and stiffer penalties for people who commit animal cruelty, the world will be a kinder place for animals.