By Joe Zaldarriaga
THE RECENT brutal killing of Tiger, a stray dog in Subic, Zambales, is the latest in a string of animal cruelty cases that have made national headlines and ignited public outrage.
And rightfully so. The barbaric killing of the helpless animal in today’s society—where compassion and basic decency should prevail—violates the national psyche and cannot be justified by any frustration, economic hardship, or inconvenience. Saying that Tiger’s death angers and saddens me would be an understatement of the emotions I felt.
Stabbed to death after allegedly stealing meat, Tiger’s tragic death is not only a horrifying case of animal cruelty but also brings to light a long underlying problem that has often been overlooked—the common and rampant mistreatment of strays.
While I share the sentiments of many others in condemning this unacceptable, cruel act, it is important to acknowledge the root cause of animal abuse cases in our communities: the overpopulation of strays. For years, stray animals have been viewed largely as pests, which they are not, and their rising numbers only make them more prone to neglect and cruelty.
To emphasize the magnitude of the problem, there are over 13 million stray dogs and cats according to the Mars Petcare Pet Homelessness Project report—representing millions of animals that could easily be subject to abuse. Without intervention, all these strays will continue to struggle to survive on the streets—scavenging for food and seeking shelter wherever they can which, as seen in Tiger’s case, can lead to fatal consequences.
But this is not the fault of the thousands of stray dogs and cats on our streets, it is ours. Various factors have contributed to the cycle of neglect and abuse of stray animals, namely the inconsistent enforcement of the country’s animal welfare law, irresponsible pet ownership, the continued practice of buying and breeding animals instead of adopting, and the lack of government spaying and neuter programs to control the population of strays.
What many don’t realize isthat addressing the overpopulation of strays is not only for animal welfare but also to promote public health and the overall well-being of communities given the persisting threat of rabies.
As a society, we must recognize that our treatment of animals mirrors our soul as a nation. I have said before that a society that is cruel to animals is a broken society bereft of decency and good moral order.
Tiger’s tragic death is a reminder of the glaring lack of awareness of animal welfare and exposes the gaps as well in current animal welfare legislation. I call on our lawmakers to fast-track policy action to amend the 1998 Animal Welfare Act to introduce tougher penalties for violators, specifically increased jail time and heftier fines to deter others from abusing animals.
Moreover, policy action should mandate and empower local government units (LGUs) to have structured spay and neuter programs and, if their budget permits, animal sanctuaries, to address not only the overpopulation of strays in their respective communities but a systematic and humane way to address the issue.
Information and education campaigns on responsible pet ownership are also crucial and should target people of all age,s including children. By doing so, LGUs also protect communities from the threat of rabies.
Lastly, each one of us should view Tiger’s death as a reminder to value life in all forms and to exercise compassion, especially for the most helpless and vulnerable in our society.
Let us extend kindness and decency to animals—the voiceless members of our society who, just like people, need to be cared for. May the death of Tiger inspire all of us to contribute towards building more compassionate and responsible communities where no animal is subject to abuse or cruelty.
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in the foregoing article are solely the author’s and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of the Philippine News Agency (PNA) or any other office under the Presidential Communications Office.
