THE grim reality of the dog-meat trade in the Philippines cannot be really seen solely on statistics of slaughtered dogs per day (an average of 300 dogs are killed a day), nor in the blatant practice in existence for nearly three decades now. It can only be seen in the actual state of the dogs recovered during rescue operations.

Purchased for a few pesos from the southern parts of the country, these hapless native dogs instantly suffer horrible cruelty in the hands of wicked traders. Tied by a wire loop around its neck and thrown inside cramped cabs, each dog is forcibly muzzled with a tin can or with wires. Piled-up on each other and kept in tightly closed carriers, these animals die due to suffocation, ruptured bladders, broken necks and considerable blood loss during an eight-hour trip by land to the northern parts of the country.

The “lucky” ones who survive such a horrendous ordeal are viciously battered on the head and skinned together with the dead ones upon reaching the illegal slaughter houses of the north. Their meat are then sold to restaurants and even in public markets.

Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF), a registered animal-welfare group in the country, is very familiar with these scenarios. In fact, they have been saving these dogs for nearly six years now. Armed with the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 (RA 8485), AKF spearheads rescue operations together with police forces. Its two-hectare rescue center in Capas, Tarlac, inaugurated in July 2006, presently houses 300 rescued Philippine native dogs.

AKF, it seems, is winning the war against the wicked dog-meat traders because RA 8485 was amended and signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo into a new law, the Philippine Antirabies Act of 2007. Surely, the new regulation’s P5,000-fine-per-dog recovered, from the P1,000 or P2,000 penalty per violation before, will hurt the wicked traders’ pockets and bankrupt them. The new act will also, automatically send them to one to four years’ imprisonment. RA 9482 was signed in May 2007 and has an allocated P100-million budget for its implementation. Meanwhile, AKF operates an open dog adoption program in its rescue center in Capas, Tarlac. Animal lovers are welcome to visit the dogs and can go home with an adopted pet on the same day.

For donations or inquiries on AKF’s adoption program, call 753-1152 (Manila Office) or 045-615-0895 (Rescue Center) or contact them via akfrescuecenter@gmail.com.

Plastic Surgery’s Allure

THE death of hip-hop artist Kanye West’s mother following plastic surgery has once again unleashed our demons—at least the ones that focus on our dysfunctional relationship with beauty.

Gab Fab: Ryan, Piolo bury the hatchet

All’s well that ends well.

The feud between Ryan Agoncillo and Piolo Pascual finally ended. This happened during the wake of Maja Salvador’s father.

RA 9482 Might Save the Philippine Native Dogs

THE grim reality of the dog-meat trade in the Philippines cannot be really seen solely on statistics of slaughtered dogs per day (an average of 300 dogs are killed a day), nor in the blatant practice in existence for nearly three decades now. It can only be seen in the actual state of the dogs recovered during rescue operations.

Pascual Laboratories gives medical mission to Habitat

THERE used to be a time when the Baseco Bagong Buhay Village in Port Area, Manila, was an unsafe place to linger or hang around in, as it was a brutal area of poverty and crime. 

Holiday Tips for the Empty Nester

FOR the empty nester, the holidays are often long-awaited, but they also can feel like an invasion for parents who have begun to reacquaint themselves with the joys of a neater home, a freer schedule and the absence of certain annoying behaviors.

Helping people while drinking coffee

AND thus warned the cardinal who served as archbishop of Boston for 26 years and whose friendship with the Kennedys made him equally famous. Talking about appearances, he was also famous for saying: “When I see a bird that walks like a duck and swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck.”

Something Like Life: My Christmas ‘Dream’ Gifts

BEGINNING tomorrow, December 1, we have exactly 23 days to get our Christmas lists in order, subtracting the friends we haven’t seen for ages or adding new ones to the list (including new bosses for the proverbial sipsip gifts), and getting all our shopping done before the clock strikes midnight to herald the Christ Lord’s birth.