Law Summary
Prohibited Acts: Torture, Neglect, Maltreatment, and Animal Fighting
- Unlawful to torture any animal or neglect providing adequate care, sustenance or shelter.
- Prohibits maltreatment of animals.
- Specifically bans dogfights and horsefights and any killing or torture related to these practices.
- Animal killing unlawful except for specified livestock and under provided exceptions.
- Research or experiments on animals must be expressly authorized by the Committee on Animal Welfare.
Prohibition on Abandonment of Animals
- It is unlawful for any person with custody of an animal to abandon it.
- Abandonment without reasonable cause or care provision constitutes maltreatment.
- If abandonment causes unnecessary suffering or death, maximum penalties apply.
- Defines abandonment as relinquishing all rights and intention not to reclaim ownership.
Penalties for Animal Cruelty, Maltreatment, and Neglect
- Graduated penalty system based on the outcome of cruelty or neglect:
- Death of animal: 1 year 6 months to 2 years imprisonment and/or fine up to ₱100,000.
- Severe injury requiring human intervention: 1 year 1 day to 1 year 6 months and/or fine up to ₱50,000.
- Cruelty without death or incapacitation: 6 months to 1 year and/or fine up to ₱30,000.
- Juridical person’s responsible officer shall serve imprisonment.
- Alien offenders to be deported immediately after sentence.
- Increased penalties (2 years 1 day to 3 years imprisonment and/or fine up to ₱250,000) if:
- Offense committed by syndicate.
- Offender profits from cruelty.
- Public officers/employees involved.
- Involves at least three animals.
- Subsidiary imprisonment applies if fines are unpaid due to insolvency.
Empowerment and Duties of Animal Welfare Enforcement Officers
- Department of Agriculture Secretary authorized to deputize enforcement officers from NGOs, citizen groups, community organizations, and trained volunteers.
- Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement also designate officers.
- Enforcement officers are empowered to seize and rescue illegally traded or maltreated animals.
- They may arrest violators following existing arrest and detention laws.
- Secretary of Agriculture, upon Committee on Animal Welfare’s recommendation, to enact guidelines on deputization criteria and training.
- Establish monitoring and reporting mechanisms for enforcement officers.
Severability Clause
- Declaration of any provision as unconstitutional or invalid does not affect the remaining provisions, which stay effective.
Repealing Clause
- All laws, decrees, orders, rules, regulations, and issuances inconsistent with this Act are repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
Effectivity Clause
- This Act takes effect fifteen (15) days after publication in the Official Gazette or in two newspapers of general circulation, whichever is earlier.