SENATOR Grace Poe is pushing for a measure integrating Mandatory Animal Welfare Education in the curriculum for primary and secondary education students.

Poe urged her colleagues to support her Senate Bill No. 2458 or the proposed Revised Animal Welfare Act, in light of numerous reports of cruelty, neglect, and abandonment of animals.

At the same time, Poe expressed sadness at the reported killing of a golden retriever.

​“I am heartbroken and enraged, to hear of the mauling of Killua, a Golden Retriever. Mr. Anthony Solares admitted to slaughtering Killua, claiming that the dog chased his child. However, his actions which were captured in a CCTV video, were fraught with excessive violence and shows that it was Killua who was being chased,” Poe said.

​She also stressed that while it is up to our courts to decide on the matter, the public should be aware that there are laws that prohibit and punish the cruel treatment of animals.​

The proposed amendments include a provision stating that it shall be unlawful for any person to torture any animal, to neglect to provide adequate care, sustenance of shelter, or maltreat any animal or to subject any dog or horse to dogfights or horsefights, kill or cause or procure to be tortured or deprived of adequate care, sustenance or shelter, or maltreat or use the same in research or experiments not expressly authorized by the Committee on Animal Welfare.

​“If we are to create a kinder society where animals and humans can co-exist in harmony, we must raise awareness on the proper, responsible, and humane manner of treating animals,” Poe said.

​The bill also creates a Barangay Animal Welfare Task Force that will enable local officers to address animal welfare issues with dispatch.

It is envisioned that they shall work hand in hand with the corps of Animal Welfare Enforcement Officers from non-government organizations, citizens’ groups, community organizations, and other volunteers who have undergone the necessary training and have been deputized by the Department of Agriculture Secretary as well as animal welfare enforcement officers from law enforcement agencies.

“This bill is now pending in the Senate Committee on Agriculture. We hope to pass this bill soon and put an end to despicable incidents such as what happened to Killua,” Poe stressed.