“Cruelty to Animals” is defined under Philippine laws as follows:

Section 6. It shall be unlawful for any person to torture any animal, to neglect to provide adequate care, sustenance or shelter, or maltreat any animal or to subject any dog or horse to dogfights or horsefights, kill or cause or procure to be tortured or deprived of adequate care, sustenance or shelter, or maltreat or use the same in research or experiments not expressly authorized by the Committee on Animal Welfare. 

The killing of any animal other than cattle pigs, goats, sheep, poultry, rabbits, carabaos, horses, deer and crocodiles is likewise hereby declared unlawful except in the following instances: 

(1) When it is done as part of the religious rituals of an established religion or sect or a ritual required by tribal or ethnic custom of indigenous cultural communities; however, leaders shall keep records in cooperation with the Committee on Animal Welfare; 

(2) When the pet animal is afflicted with an incurable communicable disease as determined and certified by a duly licensed veterinarian; 

(3) When the killing is deemed necessary to put an end to the misery suffered by the animal as determined and certified by a duly licensed veterinarian; 

(4) When it is done to prevent an imminent danger to the life or limb of a human being; 

(5) When done for the purpose of animal population control; 

(6) When the animal is killed after it has been used in authorized research or experiments; and 

(7) Any other ground analogous to the foregoing as determined and certified licensed veterinarian. 

In all the above mentioned cases, including those of cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, poultry, rabbits, carabaos, horses, deer and crocodiles the killing of the animals shall be done through humane procedures at all times. 

For this purpose, humane procedures shall mean the use of the most scientific methods available as may be determined and approved by the committee. 

Only those procedures approved by the Committee shall be used in the killing of animals. 

Section 7. It shall be the duty of every person to protect the natural habitat of the wildlife. The destruction of said habitat shall be considered as a form of cruelty to animals and its preservation is a way of protecting the animals. 

Section 8. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this Act shall, upon conviction by final judgment, be punished by imprisonment of not less than six (6) months nor more than two (2) years or a fine of not less than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) nor more than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) or both at the discretion of the Court. If the violation is committed by a juridical person, the officer responsible therefor shall serve the imprisonment when imposed. If the violation is committed by an alien, he or she shall be immediately deported after service of sentence without any further proceedings. 

(Republic Act No. 8485  dated February 11, 1998 otherwise known as “A n Act to Promote Animal Welfare in the Philippines, otherwise known as “The Animal Welfare Act of 1998.”)

Causing Dela Cruz and Bernal Law Office is an Iloilo City-based law office with experience in animal protection policy making and advises people organizations on animal welfare.