LEGALITY
In the year 1998, the Republic Act No 8485., also known as “The Animal Welfare Act of 1998” was passed to ban the commercialization of dog meat which included fines of only P1,000.00 – P5,000.00, and imprisonment for 6 months – 2 years. This law was later strengthened by Republic Act No. 10631 in the year 2013, which provided even more severe penalties and fines for animal cruelty. These penalties involved fines that reach P100,000.00.
Despite the passing of this law, it did not stop the commercialization of dog meat, traders switched to underground black markets to continue trading dog meat illegally. Organizations such as PAWS (Philippine Animal Welfare Society) who are spearheading changes in the law aimed at increasing penalties and prison sentences for animal cruelty. Other organizations such as AKF (Animal Kingdom Foundation) and PSPCA (Philippine Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) collaborate with authorities to conduct raids, investigations, rescues, and rehabilitation for dogs, as well as prosecution of dog meat traders. Not only that but they also conduct seminars regarding the issue of animal cruelty.