There is much to say about the state of animal welfare in the Philippines. Truth to tell, my own journey into the world of askals and pusakals as they were known over 20 years ago began with Nita Lichauco, who ran the Philippine Animal Welfare Society.

I remember as a very young writer going to her home in Horseshoe Village and interviewing her. What had an immense effect on me then was how her home became also a home to any cat that entered it.

That she deeply loved animals was all I saw. She talked to them as they climbed all over her. No matter what they looked or smelled like, she loved them. I liked Nita at once, and she taught me so much about kindness to animals. She encouraged me to join rescues, which I did early in my writing years.

Enter another pet lover

Anna Cabrera, PAWS executive director, was 24 years old at the time. She would accompany Nita, much like a daughter would a mom. And so did Anna’s love for animals grow.

“I’ve been working for animal welfare since 1997,” began Anna. “I started as a volunteer for PAWS while working at a bank as loans officer. In 2006, I went full time under the Dr. Dog program.”

Today, Anna shares that animal welfare in the Philippines has grown. Animal welfare is not just about the physical well-being of animals, but their mental well-being as well,” she begins. “It is often confused with just how healthy and well-nourished an animal is but that us just one aspect of it. Making sure the animal is free from fear and distress and is able to engage in natural behavior as a big part of animal welfare.”

How true. My journey in the writing profession has brought me to many places. And there have been other issues I have gotten involved with. But, as am animal-lover, I guess that my life will always return to how it all began.

I am grateful that there are people like Anna and the many others in animal welfare that continue their advocacy.

“The Pinoy’s view of animal welfare in terms of dog and cat welfare has grown,” quips Anna. “In the late 1990s, it was just PAWS protesting the electrocution of Manila pound dogs and the treatment of unwanted dogs rounded up by the city pounds. Now, there are more rescue groups and those that volunteer in pounds to improve conditions and people who put up animal shelters for homeless or maltreated animals.”

There are still more roads for Anna and other animal welfare groups to traverse.

“However, awareness of the concept of animal welfare for farmed animals and how our dietary choices can improve welfare for the most number of animals is still very low.”

Sadly, Anna says there have been many criticism on the Animal welfare Act. Yet what people don’t realize is that before the passage of the law there was no protection for animals.

“Dog pounds didn’t have problems of getting rid of the unclaimed dogs,” Anna shares. “The dogs were just given to the men who drank and ate dogs as pulutan because at the time dog meat trade was not yet outlawed.”

Welfare and a better life

There is still so much that can be done for the animals that we live with whether they are in our home or not. But, at the end of the day, it is kindness and a true hear for every animal we see that rules the life of all animal-lovers.

Let’s continue to love our animal friends.

Shall we?