Poe pushes stricter laws to combat rising animal cruelty

Senator Grace Poe expressed concern over increasing instances of animal cruelty and neglect in the Philippines on Saturday.

Poe stressed that without punishment for offenders, more cases of animal abuse will continue, urging authorities to intensify efforts in identifying and prosecuting abusers.

She highlighted recent cases including a dog named Tiktok shot with dart arrows in Negros Occidental and another case involving Bulldog, an elderly couple's pet struggling financially.

Poe authored Senate Bill No. 2458 to strengthen animal welfare policies, enforce stricter regulations, and impose tougher penalties on violators.

The bill also proposes the establishment of an Animal Welfare Bureau under the Department of Agriculture to oversee nationwide protection efforts.

She emphasized the need for urgent action and prosecution to deter future cases of animal abuse, noting that abusers must be prosecuted to make laws effective deterrents.