We object to the cruelty, your honor

Really, these creatures have no way of defending themselves.

Let’s impeach anyone who treats animals cruelly.

The recent case of putting a dog in a plastic bag and hanging it on the back of a vehicle is truly an offense that is unforgivable.

How can anyone put a dog inside a bag and hang the bag out of the car (pretty much like what would be done with a bag of trash), just because it didn’t smell good?

But, thank “dogness” for the Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF), which has filed a case of cruelty against the corporation, that owns the car.

Anna Cabrera of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) told me that they are following whatever leads they have to try to find the dog.  

“Hopefully, he is okay after his terrible ordeal,” said Anna Cabrera, executive director, PAWS. “I cannot understand how anyone would prefer to put a breathing, living creature in a plastic bag —just because they couldn’t stand sharing the same space with a ‘dirty’ dog.”

* * *

I recently got a letter from a person who did not sign his or her name. But, since this person took the time to handwrite it, I am responding to him/her with a list of what can be done when one is faced with a case of cruelty.

 The letter writer says that he/she is saddened and angered by the cruel treatment of the dogs of his/her neighbor in Bagong Nayon II, Resettlement Project, Antipolo City.  

 For the letter writer, I am printing here the ways by which cruelty against animals can be reported as prepared by PAWS. How to report animal cruelty:

1. Report to barangay officials. if you see animal cruelty in progress (such as persons in the act of a “dog katay” or selling and buying dogs for the dog meat trade, or inflicting harm to animals), report the incident immediately to your barangay officials and/or call 117.

PAWS needs citizens (witnesses) to be take steps in filing charges so that the cruelty can be prevented.

In order to prosecute criminals for the violation of the Animal Welfare Act, PAWS needs the complete details (date, time, exact location, people involved). If you are not willing to execute an affidavit, recommend another eyewitness who will.

2. Call 117. If the persons committing the crime are not known, the best we can do is alert police officers to the exact location in the hope that they will be able to catch the criminals in the act.

Call 117 if you see a “dog katay” in progress or anybody selling dog meat. Take down the name of the one receiving your call.

From the experience at PAWS, all 117 officers  treat these reports seriously and send a mobile patrol right away (but it would be good to take down the name in case you end up with an uncooperative call-taker).

Other Options

Option 1: Warning letter from PAWS

First off, has anyone tried to warn these people that what they are doing / planning to do is against the law? (Or is everyone just keeping quiet?) Ignorance of the law excuses no one but it would be a good start to send them a warning.

If you could e-mail their full names and complete address to philpaws@yahoo.com, PAWS can send an official letter to them through the barangay (please provide the contact info of the barangay captain/officers).

Option 2:  File charges — either file a court case or complaint at the barangay level

Fiscal Level (Criminal Charges)

Your affidavit should contain the circumstances that led you to believe that such persons will inflict harm or intend to inflict harm on the dogs (whether abuse or slaughtering for pulutan). Have you seen them hurt/slaughter dogs in the past? Was there anything they said? How did they act that convinced you that they were going to slaughter?

Note: There are no expenses involved with filing a case except perhaps for a filing fee of about P100 when you go to the prosecutor’s office. PAWS volunteer lawyers can help you review your affidavit.

Barangay Level

Report them to the barangay so that the barangay will likewise be watching over them. Furnish barangay officials with a copy of RA8485 (The Animal Welfare Act).  PAWS gives free barangay lectures on animal welfare and they need only to contact PAWS ahead of time and arrange for their transport.

If your barangay officials refuse to act during the time that you reported the crime to them, execute an affidavit regarding their names, what happened, etc. so that PAWS can file administrative charges against them.

PAWS needs and encourages everyone to take action: report cases and/or file charges against cruelty. Verbally complaining (even through email) is not enough.

For more information, call PAWS at 475-1688 or email them at philpaws@yahoo.com.

I hope that this information will help my letter writer deal with dog cruelty in his/her area.

* * *

At the PAWS shelter there are 56 dogs and 253 cats up for adoption.  Anyone interested in adopting a pet can drop by the shelter between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays to Saturdays.

PAWS follows a strict process in adopting out animals from the shelter as it wants to make sure that the animals will go to good homes.

Here are steps in adopting a pet from PAWS:

 1. Fill up an adoption application form and undergo an interview by two adoption counselors.

2. Attend getting-to-know-you sessions with the animal (For dogs, this may take from two weeks to a month).

3. Prepare for the inspection of the home of would be parents.

4. Wait for approval and release — depending on results of steps one to three. This includes the payment of the adoption fee (P500 for cats, P1,000 for dogs).

The animal that you adopt from PAWS will already be spayed or neutered, vaccinated against rabies (plus, 5-in-1 vaccination for dogs. Additional fee for tri-cat vaccination for cats), dewormed and will be eligible for free consultation at the PAWS clinic for its entire life.

For more information, call 475-1688 or e-mail philpaws@yahoo.com.

Here are some of the dogs and cats up for adoption at PAWS: