When Satan rises from the depths

Jeffrey Dahmer. Ted Bundy. The Boston Strangler.

What do these three have in common?

Well, for starters, they were among the most evil members of the human species; they were serial killers.

Another thing they have in common? They all showed cruelty toward animals. At some point before they became infamous for the trail of bodies they left behind, they were torturing small animals including pets.

Authorities and studies have shown that a set of three behaviors—animal cruelty, chronic bedwetting, and compulsive fire-setting—are early warning signs in childhood and adolescence that correlate with antisocial personality development and future violent or serial offending.

Now, what’s my point in unearthing information about these serial killers? It brings me to a recent incident here that I find just as terrifying and horrible as the crimes committed by the killers I mentioned.

Recently, reports surfaced that 29 dead dogs and cats were dumped like garbage in a vacant lot in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. Frankly, it is not just a shocking news story or a business scandal involving a fake pet crematorium.

It’s a terrifying wake-up call about how some people view living, breathing creatures.

When pets—animals that brought comfort, joy, and unconditional love to their families—are thrown away like literal trash, it points to a much deeper, darker problem in our society, like Satan rising up from the depths of hell.

Think about it: Pets are completely defenseless. They trust us implicitly. When someone crosses the line into abusing, killing, or callously discarding an innocent animal, it shows a total lack of empathy and a completely broken moral compass.

It proves that they see a living being not as something to respect, but as an object to use, exploit, and throw away. That exact same mindset is what allows violent criminals to hurt human beings without feeling a shred of guilt.

Even though the Bulacan case looks like a story of greedy business owners scamming grieving families who paid for proper cremations, the underlying heartlessness is the same. To take a family’s beloved pet, lie to their faces, and dump its body in a field shows a disturbing level of coldness.

That is why the push for stronger animal welfare laws isn't just a minor issue for pet lovers—it’s a matter of public safety. When our laws treat animal abuse as a minor offense with a light fine, we are basically ignoring a giant red flag.

We can’t afford to brush off animal cruelty as "just a dog" or "just a cat." How a society treats its most vulnerable creatures says everything about its values.

If we don't crack down on those who hurt or exploit animals today, we shouldn't be surprised when that cruelty turns toward people tomorrow.

The 29 pets found in Bulacan and those which were discovered recently deserve justice, and our laws need to show that every life actually matters.