I see them everyday—posters advertising the sale of dogs and rabbits as though they were mere commodities. This fires a burning displeasure inside me as even though the slaughter of dogs for human consumption is illegal under the 1998 Animal Welfare Act in the Philippines, due to the commendable efforts made by IWCT in the 1990's working with police and government agencies, the same cannot be said for rabbits. Despite being legal, this practice is ethically disconcerting. For many of us, these animals are not just pets, but cherished members of our families.

Presently, there is no definitive data on the numbers of rabbits and dogs sold for meat nationwide, which highlights an urgent need for transparency and regulation in this area. Our beloved pets should not be reduced to livestock status, subject to the brutal realities of meat trade. Moreover, there are numerous reports of extreme cruelty towards these animals in the process of being transformed into meat.

The main contest here is not about the legality, but rather the morality. The time has come for us to reassess the value we assign to these loyal and loving animals and demand a change. To make this change, we need to band together and make our voices heard. We must call on our government to enact and enforce laws to completely prohibit the sale for consumption, and consumption of dogs and rabbits in the Philippines. Pets should remain as pets, not become meals. Please stand with us, sign this petition and let's give our pet dogs and rabbits the respect and protection they deserve.