PAWS urges owner of cat shot with arrow in Mandaluyong to take legal action
Trigger warning: This article includes mention of animal cruelty.
The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) urged the owner of the cat who was allegedly shot with an arrow in Mandaluyong to take legal action.
Dr. Louie, a Mandaluyong City vet, contacted PAWS on Feb. 27 after a woman from Brgy. Addition Hills brought her male cat in for emergency treatment.
The feline was "mercilessly" shot with an arrow and immediately treated.
With the recent cases of animal cruelty "involving the same modus operandi," PAWS emphasized the urgent need for legal action to be undertaken. They called the cat's pet owner to come forward and work together to seek justice.
They also urged the public to provide any information about the individual responsible for targeting and shooting arrows at animals in the area.
"Simply providing medical care isn't enough; without seeking justice and holding perpetrators accountable, acts of cruelty like this will continue, and more animals will continue to suffer and even end up dying slow, painful, and horrible deaths," PAWS said.
To report, individuals can contact PAWS via its email, philpaws@paws.org.ph, and contact number, 0905 401 2235.
"We must stand as the voice for these animals by duly reporting cruelty incidents and pursuing legal action. Filing criminal charges is crucial in ending animal cruelty for good," it added.
A similar incident happened in Murcia, Negros Occidental in February after a dog was shot with multiple arrows. This case prompted officials to put up tens of thousands of cash rewards against the animal abusers.
What does the law say?
Republic Act No. 8485, or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, originally meted a punishment of imprisonment between six months and/or two years and a fine ranging from P1,000 to P5,000.
RA 10631 amended the law to increase the penalty depending on the maltreated animal's condition.
If the animal dies, the offender is imprisoned for one year and six months to two years and/or fined at least P100,000.
Severe injuries—with loss of the animal's natural faculty to survive on its own and needing human intervention to sustain its life—lead to imprisonment of one year to one year and a half and/or a fine of at least P50,000.
Any form of cruelty that is non-fatal or non-incapacitating results in imprisonment of six months to one year and/or a fine of at least P30,000.
However, if the crime is committed by a syndicate, an offender running a business out of cruelty, a public official, or involves at least three animals, a maximum penalty of two to three years imprisonment and at least a P250,000 fine will be imposed.
