Pinoy pet lovers hail Pope Francis

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines – Pope Francis’ remark that animals could go to heaven has elated Filipino animal lovers, including businessman Robert Yupangco, who owns over 100 animals in several zoo-theme parks nationwide.

“It’s an affirmation of my belief that intelligent animals were designed by God to complement humans,” Yupangco said. 

He regarded the pope’s statement as a “welcome development” for animal lovers. He said as a youth living in Bel-Air in Makati, he had owned a tiger he inherited from a German who was to be deported.

Yupangco, head of the Zoomanity Group Inc., owns the Zoocobia here; the Zoocolate Thrills in Loboc, Bohol; the Zoobic Safari at Subic Freeport, and the Paradizoo in Mendez, Cavite.

The pope had consoled a child whose dog had died by sayingthat all creatures have a place in Heaven.

The New York Times reported that animal groups such as the Humane Society and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals applauded the pope’s comments, although there were also critics.