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| Editorial Cartoon by Ms. Kim Jhewel Caoili, The Catalyst Editorial Cartoonist |
In the bustling wet market, where vendors shouted their products to every passing customer and the scent of fresh meat filled the air, a stray dog named “Tiger” wandered with a wagging tail, hoping for scraps and a bit of kindness. But what followed was far from what Tiger expected from humans. After getting caught stealing a piece of meat from the stall, Tiger was slammed by a vendor’s bolo, an act of cruelty that left the dog broken and bloodied. Helpless and in pain, Tiger’s suffering raises haunting questions about how some humans treat those who cannot defend themselves.
On March 26, 2025, in the public market of Subic, Zambales, a native dog named "Tiger" was stabbed violently to death by a vendor after being found stealing a piece of meat from her stall. According to a report in "State of the Nation” on Wednesday, the recorded video by a witness showed that the defenseless dog showered by his own blood was still resiliently walking even when its organs were already visible. Unfortunately, the cruelty was too much to endure for him. Tiger was laid to rest on Friday, March 28, at the Animal Kingdom Foundation in Capas, Tarlac.
Although the Animal rights group Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) condemned the brutal killing of the dog, and the vendor has already been arrested and is now facing violations under the Animal Welfare Act (RA 8485), the cruelty against animals remains rampant in the Philippines and must not be ignored.
From street abuse to illegal dogfights, from the public cruelty to that which is done inside the house, several people are still harming the animals violently and treating them as mere objects that can be just abused, thrown away, and starved anytime they want rather than treating them as living creatures capable of pain and emotions. Where finding food to survive was their nature to aid hunger like humans, where barking and biting was their nature to defend themselves when provoked and abused violently. The worst thing about this is that animal cruelty is not much of a threat to some people and does not challenge their sense of morality.
However, isn't kindness to animals a reflection of one's humanity? After all, humans are the most advanced form of life, capable of doing anything and having a rational mind to think logically. While animals are driven solely by their instinct, that is enough to survive and simply seek food and shelter. One of the biggest contributors to this issue is the lack of awareness of many people that hitting stray or domestic animals and abandoning pets is acceptable and is something that should not be worried about. Being an irresponsible owner is justified due to financial constraints without awareness that animals suffer because of human neglect and there is no one other than humans who have the innate capability to take full responsibility for animals.
We can end the cruelty and violence against animals through the power of education. School institutions should include animal welfare in values education. Social media is also one of the most effective tools to advocate animal rights and report abuse. Another one is to make the law for animals stricter; that would effectively improve the protection of animals. Authorities must take these kinds of cases seriously and penalise the offenders accordingly instead of letting them pass after committing such violence. Lastly, compassion, kindness, and empathy start at home. Teaching your children to treat animals with care would result in the future generations valuing the lives of all living creatures.
Ending animal cruelty is not just about simply protecting the animals against horrific actions. Through valuing their lives, we learn to be compassionate to one another and become a more responsible community. A kinder world will start by defending those who cannot speak for themselves.
Animals, whether domestic or wild, typically only attack humans in self-defense or out of fear, not with the intent to kill. Showing acts of gentleness is the best way to prevent them from attacking as we begin to earn their trust. In the end, like domestic pets, these wild animals simply want to be petted too, to feel cared for, and to be sheltered.
Article: Ms. Jane Rochelle Labini (The Catalyst Feature Editor)
Editorial Cartoon: Ms. Kim Jhewel Caoili (The Catalyst Editorial Cartoonist)
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Opinion