The Senate recently passed on third reading Senate Bill No. 2975 “Revised Animal Welfare Act” on June 2, 2025.

The bill obviously had good intentions, as the current law it aims to replace. Unfortunately, good intentions are not good enough considering several circumstances in our local setting. The provisions for animal welfare were first enunciated in more economically advanced and prosperous nations that have laid the foundations for it by uplifting human living standards first.

We obviously have not done enough for the latter as the poverty rate is still high. Food prices are high and proper nutrition is beyond the means of ordinary citizens resulting in widespread malnutrition and resultant physical and intellectual stunting.

Living conditions for millions are substandard, with some actually living on the streets and others stuffed into filthy and crowded slums we euphemistically term “informal settlements.”

Healthwise, many Filipinos die without seeing a doctor their whole lives. Many seek medical help only when desperately ill, and often die of their illnesses which could have been prevented with early medical attention. Government hospitals are overwhelmed with patients who get suboptimal care due to the volume and often broken-down and improperly maintained equipment.

Now, we demand the best care for our pets and ask for the five basic freedoms of animals, namely, 1. Freedom from thirst, hunger, and malnutrition; 2. Freedom from physical discomfort and pain; 3. Freedom from injury and disease, 4. Freedom to express normal behavior, and 5. Freedom from fear and distress, to be respected and protected.

There are other issues that need to be addressed. Rabies is still a big national problem and threatens humans and animals alike. We owe our animals and ourselves a solution to this issue since it also kills all that are affected. My column, “Rabies Kills,” (July 12, 2022) proposed novel solutions to replace an otherwise inutile campaign that keeps being repeated in spite of its lack of success. Currently, we are seeing a spike in rabies cases, and more resources are needed to treat dog bite victims.

State regulations are often over-reaching yet implementation is usually spotty and directed at the most vulnerable segments of the population. Very restrictive measures on pet ownership are subject to legal challenges that they impinge on individual freedoms without adequate protections in place.

We have a thriving community of dog lovers who treat their “fur babies” far better than what the average Filipino gets from the government and society. They will be targeted because they’re the ones who can afford to pay licensing fees and comply with vexing and complicated, if unnecessary regulations.

What happens to the poor Filipinos who own dogs that they often feed poorly, don’t get them vaccinated (much less see a vet), and can’t provide decent quarters since they themselves are in unsanitary living conditions? How will they satisfy the five basic animal freedoms? Obviously, authorities will turn a blind eye on the majority of the population, causing unequal treatment under the law. The law applies to all ,and if it does not, it is an oppressive law.

Further, this bill can create many opportunities for corruption as those who are the real culprits, the dog meat traders, animal smugglers, wildlife poachers etc. will be far more willing to entice those in charge to turn a blind eye to their activities with the appropriate bribes. There is so much corruption in our bureaucracy and we don’t need more reasons for it to fester.

There is dire need to amend the provisions of this bill to address these concerns. It is simply hypocritical to demand the best conditions for our pets when we can’t even do the same for our fellow citizens. Similarly, the average dog lover/hobbyist who often gives his/her pets the best conditions possible should not have to be covered by these regulations that they exceed far above the basic ones. Concentrate on the culprits mentioned above.

Ear cropping and tail docking are not animal cruelty any more than tattooing or human circumcision is for social, religious or rite-of-passage purposes. These measures are done early in life with appropriate anesthesia to preclude pain during the procedure. Their purpose is to ensure that the dog is traditionally suited to its purpose for hunting and police work to avoid injuries when their long ears and tails are caught in the thickets or gripped by a criminal to pry the dog loose from its grip on him.

It’s best to concentrate on ensuring better health and welfare for stray dogs and cats by mandatory trapping, neutering/spaying and rabies vaccinations in the general community to prevent overpopulation and rabies infections.

We are all God’s creatures and deserve the best living conditions possible. But let’s do it rationally and without bias.