Fighting animal cruelty and demanding accountability

Recently, several incidents of animal cruelty and abuse have sparked widespread outrage, drawing significant attention to the issue.

- JOE ZALDARRIAGA

These alarming events have fueled calls for accountability and emphasized the need for stricter penalties for the abusers.

Last week, calls to find and arrest a foreign national who brutally kicked and killed a community cat in Makati made headlines. This prompted an animal welfare group to offer an incentive to anyone who can provide the whereabouts of the man involved.

In a separate incident, a dog in Negros Occidental was used as a makeshift dart board, shot with improvised arrows in what Sen. Grace Poe condemned as a "barbaric act." A cash reward was also offered for information leading to the identification of the individuals responsible for this horrific abuse.

Unfortunately, this series of animal abuse cases does not stop there.

In La Union, a woman recently lost five pet dogs, allegedly poisoned by her neighbor who claimed the animals were killing his chickens. The dog owner condemned the act, saying that her neighbor should have addressed the issue through proper channels, such as reporting it to the barangay, rather than resorting to animal cruelty. An animal welfare group has since launched an investigation to identify accountability for the incident.

Social media has provided a powerful platform to highlight these cases of animal abuse, driving public pressure that has led to tangible actions. This includes increased public awareness and vigilance, policy reviews, government intervention and growing support from the private sector.