STRAY dogs will find a home now courtesy of the Animal Welfare Association (AWA), a non-government organization created in Iloilo City by animal advocates for welfare and defense of animal rights.
AWA was launched October 16 and the group is headed by Anna Marie Rivera Wharton, a spa owner and fervent dog lover. They are currently looking for volunteers, foster homes for the animals, and donors to save the dogs and cats in the community.
Wharton said that Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 has been wantonly violated because dogs and cats suffered inhumane treatment from human beings.
She said they are more focus on protecting the rights of the ordinary “aspin” or “asong pinoy” and not the highly breed dogs and cats made pets by affluent families.
The existing law provides sanctions and penalties against persons who subject any animal to cruelty, maltreatment, or neglect. Punishment includes one year and six months and one day to two years and or a fine not exceeding P100,000 if the animal subjected cruelty, maltreatment or neglect dies.
Imprisonment of one year and one day to one year and six months and or a fine not exceeding P50,000 if the animal subjected to maltreatment survives but is severely injured with loss of its natural faculty to survive on its own and needing human intervention to sustains its life.
The law further provides imprisonment of six months to one year and or fine not exceeding P30,000 for subjecting the animal to cruelty but without causing its death or incapacitating it to survive on its own.
Wharton said dog or cat lovers who wanted their kittens or puppies be adopted or find a shelter for the animals may contact the group immediately at Spa Rivera and her group is willing to help the owners. (LCP)