l am writing this petition with a heavy heart, having lost three innocent dogs before due to cruel acts of abuse, poisoning and murder — Felina, Whitey and Max. Believing that filing a complaint was just an act of "attention-seeking", I remained silent for years, not until I found out what happened to #Killua, who was murdered for the sake of profit. These animals, whether dogs or cats are more than pets; they are family, and it is saddening that each one met an untimely end due to the inhumane actions of others. This is not just my story; it is a reality for countless pet owners worldwide.

The case of animal cruelty is still predominant today, despite years of advocacy and awareness campaigns. Dogs and cats are being abused, killed for earnings or abandoned in dark corners by intolerant individuals who lack empathy and compassion. Based on the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), nearly 1 million animals fall victim to abuse each year in the United States alone, and these numbers are evidently heartbreaking and unacceptable. In the Philippines, there have been roughly 7,000 cases of animal exploitation documented in the statistics of the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) from years 2010 to 2017. Even more concerning, 3,000 incidents of animal cruelty were reported just in the year 2020 alone, according to the remarks of the Compassion and Responsibility for Animals (CARA) Welfare Philippines.

In line with the aforementioned reports, violence towards animals ostensibly happens countless times not only in the United States, in the Philippines but around the world. Numerous cases are disguised by obscurity, and it takes courage for the witnesses or observers to reveal themselves and tell the truth. Today is one of the perfect chances to keep reminding law enforcement to play a more proactive and corroborative role, and let everyone realize that the mistreatment of animals is a massive shot, like people's lives.

We must take up a physical sense that animals are not ordinary pets but can also be victims like us. We must treat them like humans as they are also sentient beings capable of feeling pain and experiencing emotions like us. They deserve love, care and respect, not cruelty or neglect.

Let us unite against #AnimalCruelty! Let us fight for stricter laws protecting our beloved pets from harm! Let us help educate the public that filing a complaint to the abusers is neither a shame nor an act of “attention-seeking". Let us ensure that no more innocent lives like Felina's, Whitey's, Max's or Killua's are lost due to such senseless acts.

Please sign and share this petition if you believe in a world where every animal is treated with kindness and respect. Your signature can make a huge difference!

#StopAnimalCruelty
#EndAnimalExploitation 
#TougherLawAgainstAnimalCruelty 
#JusticePrevails