Compassion, respect, and protection should not only be given to human beings but also to our four-legged furry friends who cannot speak for themselves.
This was the call sounded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) as they kicked off their advocacy campaign under their collaborative program ‘Angel Pets’ on Thursday (May 8).
Division Chief (DC) Darlene Dancel of the Children and Youth Division (CYD) under the DSWD’s Social Technology Bureau (STB) said the one-day event at the PAWS Rehabilitation Center in Quezon City is a ’big step forward’ for the DSWD and PAWS’ joint advocacy to promote animal-aided therapy and the importance of responsible pet ownership.
“Yung ARAL (Advocacy, Research, and Learning) session, which we are conducting right now, aims to advance our advocacy for animal welfare,” DC Dancel said in her opening message to over 40 participants in the activity.
The STB Division chief said kicking-off the advocacy-driven side of the program comes
timely amid the emerging need to promote harm-free coexistence between humans and animals.
“So, marami tayong naririnig na mga ganyang balita [animal abuse cases] but I think that we should always have it in our hearts as human beings, as co-creatures in this universe na bigyan ‘yung mga animals and pets natin ng nararapat na respeto,” DC Darlene pointed out.
As part of the initiative, the informative session underscored the importance of taking
cruelty toward animals seriously by law enforcement, and by society at large.
PAWS Community Education Officer Sharon Yap cited a 1983 study noting that animal abuse was found in 88% of homes in which physical child abuse was being investigated.
“Backed by research and studies po ito, which is more the reason why kailangan po talaga nating bantayan yung mga kaso ng animal cruelty,” Communication Officer Yap said.
PAWS Executive Director Anna Cabrera described the initiative as a much-needed boost to their long-fought causes.
“This is very much in line with our humane education efforts kasi sabi nga namin na pag hindi naiintindihan, pag walang awareness, hindi rin nagsa-succeed yung mission. But if more people are able to understand then mas madali for us to promote kindness and compassion,” Executive Director Cabrera said.
Executive Director Cabrera added she was happy to see huge interests among attendees on the Dr. Dogs program, which is also among the objectives eyed by the Angel Pets project.
“So talagang we have every intent to continue this program with the DSWD. The ARAL program is a good initiative… it is groundbreaking in a sense because it’s about social welfare and animal welfare coming together, and doing more in the service of Filipinos,” the PAWS executive explained.
Launched last October 2024, the Angel Pets pioneers the use of animal-assisted therapy in therapeutic interventions of the government, particularly for young girls and women who have experienced abuse, neglect, or those living with psychosocial disabilities, in select DSWD centers and facilities. (LSJ)